So COAs are not totally accurate, but rather indications that your active ingredient is present. NOTE: Laboratories (and State laws) publish at +/- 15% margin of error their testing results. On its bottle label, Blue Harvest advertises that it has 5% CBD and 50 mg CBD/ML, so the COA checks out. According to the COA, there is 5.8% CBD by weight and 58.58 mg of CBD per ml. (which is approximately the same as mg/ml). In the example above, there are two columns, the first is the percentage of Mass (or weight) the second column is mg/g. On the other hand, if you are reviewing activation % for flower or vapes, you want to see an activation % of close to zero. The activation percentage lets you know whether your CBD manufacturer did its job. All cannabinoids need to be activated through a process known as decarboxylation, which basically removes a carbon atom from the compound through heat. Activation means that the CBD in your product will work as advertised – the closer to 100% the better. Notice in the upper right-hand corner of the Blue Harvest COA. The most important statistic on your COA is activation. There might be other abbreviations meaning the same thing, these other abbreviations will also be listed at the bottom of the document for clarification. “ND” means that a compound was not detected over the limits of detection. This is a profile that lists the different amounts of each cannabinoid. Find the section of the COA which looks like this: Matching batch numbers between COA and bottle labels indicates that your CBD manufacturer is serious about testing transparency.Īfter reviewing the top part of the COA for information such as a testing facility, CBD manufacturer, strain, testing date, and batch number.
In the example above, F500319-01 is the batch number, this number can also be found on the bottle label. Next, you will want to verify the batch number on the COA matches the batch number on your label.
The Spott is part of the Confident Cannabis national network of lab facilities. Here is an example of a COA for Blue Harvest completed by The Spott, a licensed testing facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In addition, we have a QR code directly on our packaging.įirst thing to look for is the third-party verification. For example, Blue Harvest directly links the COA from our product description. If they refuse or are unable to provide a COA, the product isn’t reliable, and you should avoid that company. Send them a simple email requesting the COA. If the COA can’t be found online or in QR code, the next best option is to contact a company. Other products come with a QR code on the packaging, which can be scanned to view the COA. Most companies keep their COA online, and can be found with a simple product search. A COA is not reliable unless its completed by a third party.
For CBD products, this means a report that lists percentages of cannabinoids, which consumers can use to verify the accuracy of the ingredients listed on their product or verify if a product is actually full or broad spectrum. What is a COA?Ī certificate of analysis is a report that verifies the active ingredients in a given product. Fortunately, many are adopting the best practice of publishing a Certificate of Analysis (“COA”) for each product they are selling. As new CBD companies flood the market, it becomes more and more difficult to trust the legitimacy of the products you’re purchasing.