What Is a COA and Why Does It Matter?

A Certificate of Analysis is an official document issued by an independent, third-party laboratory confirming what's actually inside a hemp or CBD product.

It verifies:

Cannabinoid content and potency

— how much CBD, Delta-9 THC, THCA, and other cannabinoids are present

Legal compliance

— whether Delta-9 THC is within the federal limit of ≤ 0.3% by dry weight

Safety

— whether the product is free from harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and residual solvents

In short: a COA is proof that the product is what the label says it is — not just what the brand wants you to believe.

The hemp and CBD industry has grown rapidly — and while that's exciting, it also means regulation hasn't fully caught up. The FDA does not pre-approve hemp products before they reach store shelves. That means brands and retailers carry the responsibility of testing their products and making those results accessible.

Without a COA, there is no independent verification that:

The product contains the cannabinoid levels advertised

Delta-9 THC is within the legal threshold

The product is free of pesticides, heavy metals, or microbial contamination

A label can say anything. A COA has to be backed by real laboratory data.

Not all COAs carry equal weight. Here's what separates a trustworthy COA from one that raises questions:

Third-party testing — The COA must come from a laboratory with no financial relationship to the brand being tested. In-house lab results are not acceptable.

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — This is the international gold standard for laboratory testing competence. Look for this accreditation number listed directly on any COA you review.

Batch-specific — The COA should correspond to the exact batch or lot number printed on the product packaging. A generic COA that doesn't match the product you're holding is not valid proof for that specific product.

Recent — Hemp products should be tested regularly. COAs older than 12–18 months may not accurately reflect the current product batch.

Pennsylvania hemp retailers are expected to maintain complete COA documentation for every product and batch they sell. This isn't just best practice — it's part of running a compliant, trustworthy hemp business under the PA Industrial Hemp Act.

With Pennsylvania's updated regulations taking effect in November 2026 — requiring that total THC (including THCA) remain at or below 0.3% — accurate, current COA documentation becomes even more critical for consumers to review before purchasing.

At Elevated Flowers, COA transparency isn't an afterthought or a compliance checkbox. It's built into how we operate — because we believe every customer has the right to see what they're buying before they buy it.

Every product on our shelves has a batch-specific COA from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited third-party laboratory. We make access simple:

QR code on every product

— scan to view the full lab report instantly from your phone

In-store compliance binder

— printed copies organized by product, available at the register

On request

— any team member can pull up a COA for any product at any time

That's the Elevated Flowers standard. And it's one we hold our suppliers to as well.