How to Read a COA (Certificate of Analysis)

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is an official document from an independent, third-party laboratory confirming the contents of a hemp or CBD product. It verifies cannabinoid potency, and whether harmful contaminants are present.

Think of it as a product's report card — and as a consumer, you have every right to see it before you buy.

COAs must come from independent, third-party laboratories with no financial relationship to the brand being tested. The most credible COAs come from labs that hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — the international gold standard for laboratory testing competence.

At Elevated Flowers, every product we carry has been tested by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited third-party lab. COAs are accessible via QR code on every product, in our in-store compliance binder, or by simply asking any team member.

At the top of every COA, you'll find the basic identification details. This section seems simple — but it's where most consumers miss a critical detail.

Here's what to look for

Product Name: Must match the product label exactly

Batch / Lot Number: ⚠️ Must match the batch number on the product packaging

Sample ID: The lab's internal tracking reference

Date Tested: Should be within the last 12 months

Receiving Lab: Should be the third-party lab, not the brand

The most important check: The batch number on the COA must match the batch number printed on the product you're holding. A COA from a different batch does not validate the product in your hands — even if it's from the same brand.

Not all COAs include a terpene panel, but premium products — especially hemp flower — often do. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds responsible for a strain's flavor, scent, and overall character.

If your COA includes a terpene panel, look for:

Dominant terpenes listed by concentration

(e.g., Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Linalool)

Whether the terpene profile aligns with the strain description on the label

At our Bud-dy Bar, we use terpene data to help customers match strain profiles to their preferences — the kind of education that turns a first visit into a regular ritual.

This section is non-negotiable. A responsible lab — and a responsible retailer — tests hemp products for a full range of potentially harmful substances.

Pesticides

Hemp is a natural bio-accumulator, meaning it absorbs compounds from its growing environment — including pesticides used in or around the soil. Pesticide-free COAs are essential for any ingestible product.

Look for: Pass or ND (Not Detected) across all pesticide markers.

Heavy Metals

Testing covers lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury — all of which can accumulate in hemp plants grown in contaminated soil.

Look for: Results below state and federal threshold limits, or ND.

Residual Solvents

Relevant primarily for extracts, oils, and concentrates processed using solvents like ethanol, butane, or CO2. The COA should confirm solvents are below detectable or safe limits.

Look for: ND or Pass across all listed solvents.

Microbials

Testing for biological contamination including mold, yeast, E. coli, and salmonella. This matters most for flower, edibles, and any ingestible product.

Look for: Pass or ND across all microbial markers.

Mycotoxins

Mold-produced toxins that can be harmful even at very low concentrations. Not all COAs include this panel — but it's a sign of a thorough lab when it's present.

Look for: Pass or ND.

Reading Contaminant Results at a Glance

ND: Not Detected — best possible result

Pass: Detected but below the regulatory threshold — acceptable

Fail: Exceeds threshold — do not purchase

This is the heart of the COA. The cannabinoid panel lists every cannabinoid detected in the product and its measured concentration — typically shown as a percentage (%) or milligrams per gram (mg/g).

Key Cannabinoids to Understand

Delta-9 THC :Must be ≤ 0.3% by dry weight for federal hemp compliance

Total THC: Delta-9 THC + THCA (converted); increasingly required by state law

THCA: Raw, non-intoxicating precursor to THC; converts to THC when heated

CBD: Primary non-intoxicating cannabinoid; should match label claims

CBDA: Raw form of CBD before activation

CBG: Minor cannabinoid; sometimes called "the mother cannabinoid"

CBN: Minor cannabinoid; found in aged or oxidized hemp

CBC: Minor cannabinoid common in full-spectrum products

What to Verify in This Section

✅ Delta-9 THC is listed at ≤ 0.3% — this is the federal compliance threshold

✅ CBD or cannabinoid potency matches what's advertised on the label — if a tincture claims 1,000mg CBD and the COA shows significantly less, that's a mismatch

✅ Total THC is calculated and disclosed — this is especially important under Pennsylvania's updated 2026 regulations, which require total THC (including THCA) to remain at or below 0.3%

✅ "ND" (Not Detected) is acceptable for cannabinoids that aren't expected in the product type

At the bottom of every legitimate COA, look for:

Laboratory name and full contact information

Accreditation number

— specifically ISO/IEC 17025 certification

Analyst signature or electronic certification

confirming the results are valid

If this section is missing, vague, or lists a lab that shares a name with the brand — treat the entire COA with caution.

Quick Reference: 🚩Red Flags vs. ✅Green Flags

🚩Batch number missing or doesn't match packaging vs. ✅Batch number matches product label exactly

🚩No lab accreditation listed vs. ✅ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation visible

🚩Delta-9 THC above 0.3% vs. ✅Delta-9 THC at or below 0.3%

🚩Missing pesticide or heavy metal panels vs. ✅Full contaminant panel included

🚩COA older than 12–18 months vs. ✅Recently tested — within past 12 months

🚩COA issued by the brand's own lab vs. ✅Issued by an independent third party"

🚩Total THC" not calculated vs. ✅Total THC clearly calculated and disclosed

🚩Any contaminant result showing "Fail" vs. ✅All contaminant results show Pass or ND