Understanding Your Hemp Product’s Lab Report: A Guide to Certificates of Analysis (COAs)

Lab reports might seem tedious, but a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is crucial for ensuring you’re getting a high-quality hemp product. Whether you’re a seasoned consumer or new to the hemp market, understanding a COA can help you make informed decisions about what you’re purchasing. This guide will help you understand what a COA is, how to read it, and why it’s essential for your hemp products.

What is a Certificate of Analysis?

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a lab report detailing the results of tests conducted on a hemp product. These reports can be performed in-house if a company has the necessary equipment but are ideally carried out by third-party labs to ensure unbiased and accurate results.

Why Are COAs Important?

COAs are vital because they confirm the safety, quality, and compliance of the hemp products you consume. They provide transparency, allowing you to know exactly what’s in your product. At Harbor City Hemp, all COAs are listed below on this page. 

How to Read a Certificate of Analysis

1. Start with the Date:

   Some products like distillates, isolates, and non-perishable edibles have shelf stability for over two years, while others, like flower, stay fresh for six to twelve months with proper storage. 

2. Check Potency:

   Potency measures the strength of the cannabinoids. For example, CBD Isolate should be around 99% pure. Vape products typically have greater than 70% total cannabinoids. 

3. Total Δ9-THC Content:

   According to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp products must have less than 0.3% Δ9-THC on a dry-weight basis. Products exceeding this limit are considered illegal. Check the % by Weight or Volume Column to verify compliance.

4. Limit of Quantitation (LOQ):

   LOQ represents the smallest amount of substance detectable. Compounds below this threshold are negligible. 

5. Types of COAs:

   There are two main types of COAs: Potency COAs, which display cannabinoid percentages, and Full Panel COAs, which include Potency, Residual Solvents, Heavy Metals, Microbials, Pesticides, and sometimes additional tests. It’s best to choose products supported by Full Panel COAs showing compliant levels or “Non-Detect” (ND) for contaminants. If a COA indicates a non-compliant level of a contaminant, it will usually be highlighted in red and marked as “Failed”. Our products either have individual Full Panel COAs or use a potency COA alongside a Full Panel COA for the source cannabinoids. For instance, our Delta-8-THC Tinctures come with potency COAs, and we also provide the Full Panel COA for the Delta-8-THC distillate used in their production.

6. Check the Signature:

   This signature from a third-party lab validates the report’s legitimacy.

7. General Acronyms:
   • ND: Not Detected.
   • NT: Not Tested.
   • LOD: Limit of Detection.
   • LOQ: Limit of Quantification.
   • RL: Reporting Limit.

How to Locate a Certificate of Analysis

Reputable companies typically provide COAs in up to three places:

• Websites: Look for a “Lab Reports” or “COA/Certificate of Analysis” tab.
• Packaging: Check for a QR code on items.
• Bottles: Scannable QR codes on bottles are becoming common.

If you can’t find a COA on the website, packaging, or bottle, it’s best not to purchase the product.

Fun Facts about COAs

• FDA Regulations: The FDA allows a 20% margin of error for nutrition labeling. This means a label stating 10g of sugar could legally have between 8g and 12g. Hemp-derived products fall under FDA regulations.
• Laboratory Margin of Error: All accredited laboratories have a margin of error, which can sometimes be as high as 20%. This means that a lab report for a product might deviate by up to 20% in either direction. For example, a 1500mg Delta-8 Tincture could show results ranging from 1200mg to 1800mg of Delta-8-THC in its lab report, even if it actually contains 1500mg of Delta-8-THC.