How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for Hemp Edibles

1. Who did the testing

Look for the testing lab's name, address and accreditation, usually ISO/IEC 17025. The lab should be independent of the brand selling the product.

2. The batch and the date

Every COA should list a batch or lot number and a test date. Match that batch number to the one printed on your package — a COA for a different batch tells you very little about the product in your hand.

3. Cannabinoid potency

The potency panel lists cannabinoids such as Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC, CBD and CBN, usually as a percentage and in milligrams per gram or per unit.

• Delta-9 THC should be at or below 0.3% by dry weight for a hemp product.
• The milligrams per piece should roughly match what the label claims.
• "ND" means not detected; "LOQ" is the lowest amount the lab can reliably measure.

4. Safety panels

• Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury below limits
• Pesticides: none detected, or below action limits
• Residual solvents: left over from extraction; should pass
• Microbials and mycotoxins: yeast, mold, E. coli, salmonella; should pass

5. Red flags

• No batch number, or a batch that doesn't match your package
• A COA that's years old
• Only a potency result with no safety testing
• A lab name you can't find or verify

Frequently asked questions