TL;DR:
A certificate of analysis explains what an independent lab found when testing a cannabinoid product, helping readers verify potency, ingredients, and overall product accuracy. This blog on how to read a certificate of analysis shows readers what a COA includes, why it matters, and what details to check before buying CBD or THC products.
- Defines a COA as a third-party lab report used to verify cannabinoid content and product details.
- Explains why COAs matter, especially in a market where product claims are not always backed by independent testing.
- Walks readers through key sections, including lab identifiers, product information, cannabinoid profile, LOQ, milligrams, and percentages.
- Shows how to compare the COA to the product listing so buyers know they are reviewing the correct item.
- Highlights total active cannabinoids as a useful way to compare potency between similar products.
A certificate of analysis (COA) is an official result of lab testing for a variety of products, including those made from cannabis and hemp plants. COAs play a key role in showing consumers the unbiased results of an in-depth analysis conducted by an independent, third-party lab for the products they plan to use.
At Delta 8 Resellers, we take COAs seriously. We prefer to work with brands and manufacturers that share COAs for their products. We share them whenever available on our individual product pages and also maintain a central list of COAs for CBD and other cannabinoid products as well.
Keep reading to learn more about what a COA is and how to read one to become a more informed enjoyer of cannabinoids. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions related to COAs.
The Basics on Cannabinoid and CBD COAs: What You Need to Know
What is a COA?
Certificates of analysis are documents created by independent, third-party laboratories that test batches of a wide range of products, including but not limited to CBD and other cannabinoid products. These labs test a sample of a given product and provide key information about its active ingredients.
An easy way to put COAs into context is to think of them as lab reports. The manufacturer or brand that sells vape carts, flower, edibles, and similar products sends a sample from a batch of product to the lab, then the lab tests the product for various cannabinoids and verifies the results.
Why are COAs Important for Cannabinoid Enthusiasts?
COAs are an especially useful tool because they provide independent verification of a product’s cannabinoid content. In other words, buyers who read a COA for a product can be very confident in exactly what they’re buying.
While brands and manufacturers pay for the lab tests, they don’t have control over the results. The act of sharing a COA by itself is a sign that a brand stands behind the quality of its products. However, it’s always a good idea to read through the cannabinoid or CBD certificate of analysis to see what is contained in the product. That way, you can make sure you know exactly what you’re getting.
Keep in mind that some brands will list cannabinoid content and percentages on their product packaging without using an independent lab and COA to confirm these figures.
Because there isn’t a strong set of rules in place for hemp-derived cannabinoids, as ACS Laboratory explains, less scrupulous companies can make claims on their packaging and marketing that aren’t based in fact. Some brands may also make good-faith assumptions about their products, but without the lab testing to back up those statements.
How to Read a CBD Certificate of Analysis and COAs for Other Cannabinoid Products
Despite all the science that goes into it and the format of the test results, it’s relatively easy to read a COA for a cannabinoid product. The State of New Jersey offers a guide to COAs for cannabis products. While it’s in a different format, much of the information in that guide also applies to hemp-derived cannabinoid and CBD products.
Here’s a sample COA for a 1-gram Cake brand Delta 8 vape cart to use as a reference.
The COA starts with basic information, including the identifying number for the lab, the name of the technician and chemist, the brand name and address, the specific item being tested, and sometimes a photo of the product in its packaging. As you review this section, be sure to:
- Check the listed name and address against the publicly available information for the brand. In other words, confirm that the COA and the brand tied to the product match.
- Check the identifying information, like the strand name, cart size, cannabinoid type or types, against the product information visible online or in store. You want to ensure that you’re reviewing the COA for the same product you plan to purchase.
The main section of the COA covers the cannabinoid profile – the types of cannabinoids contained in the product and how much of each is present in the sample. The LOQ column refers to the limit of quantification, which is the lowest level of a given chemical that can be reliably detected by the lab.
The mg/cartridge (or milligram per other unit, such as a single edible) section notes how many milligrams of a specific cannabinoid are present in the product. The Percentage category shows how much of each cannabinoid is present in a given product as a percentage – it’s another way to express the number found in the mg/cartridge column.
Our sample lab report is especially easy to read because there is only one cannabinoid present in the cart in a high enough quantity to be detected. Namely, Delta 8. So, there is no or only a very negligible amount of CBD, CBN, Delta 9, or Delta 10 found in this specific vape cart.
Note that many other products blend multiple cannabinoids together. In these COAs, the percentages for each individual cannabinoid will be lower.
Finally, the total cannabinoid content shows both total active cannabinoids (cannabinoids that affect users) and total cannabinoids (all cannabinoids, whether or not they affect users). If you’re comparing the potency of two similar products, total active cannabinoids is a simple reference point.
Delta 8 Resellers: Dedicated to High-Quality Cannabinoids
At Delta 8 Resellers, we prioritize products from brands that provide COAs and share this helpful data on the individual product pages whenever available. Shop our full selection of cannabinoids and check out the COAs to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting!
