You've probably seen the words “lab tested” on hemp and cannabis products.
But what does that actually mean?
One of the best places to start is the product's Certificate of Analysis, commonly called a COA.
A COA is a laboratory report that provides testing information about a particular product or batch. Depending on the product and testing performed, it may include cannabinoid content and results for other compounds or contaminants.
At first glance, these reports can look intimidating. Lab names, percentages, milligrams, batch numbers, and long tables of abbreviations aren't exactly designed for casual reading.
The good news is that you don't need to understand every line.
Here's what to look for.
What Is a Certificate of Analysis?
A Certificate of Analysis is a report produced after a laboratory tests a product or sample.
For hemp products, COAs are commonly used to report the amounts of cannabinoids detected in the sample. Depending on the scope of testing, a report may also contain results related to other substances.
Think of the COA as additional information behind the product label.
The package tells you what the product says it contains. The laboratory report tells you what was measured in the sample that was tested.
That distinction matters.
Step 1: Make Sure You're Looking at the Right COA
Before looking at cannabinoid percentages or test results, start with something much simpler:
Does this report actually belong to the product you're considering?
Look for identifying information such as:
- Product name
- Batch or lot number
- Sample identification
- Manufacturer or client name
- Testing laboratory
- Date the sample was received or tested
Compare that information with the product packaging whenever possible.
A laboratory report isn't particularly useful if you can't connect it to the product in your hand.
Step 2: Look at the Testing Laboratory
The COA should identify the laboratory that performed the testing.
Depending on the applicable regulatory requirements, laboratories may be required to meet particular accreditation standards for certain testing.
The important point for a customer is simpler: the report should clearly tell you who performed the test.
Look for the laboratory's name and identifying information rather than relying solely on a “lab tested” statement printed on the product.
Step 3: Find the Cannabinoid Profile
This is usually one of the most useful sections of a hemp COA.
The cannabinoid analysis may list compounds such as:
CBD — Cannabidiol
CBG — Cannabigerol
CBN — Cannabinol
Δ9-THC — Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
THCA — Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
CBDA — Cannabidiolic acid
Depending on the product, you may see additional cannabinoids as well.
Next to each cannabinoid, the report will typically show the amount detected using a measurement such as a percentage or concentration.
You don't need to memorize all the abbreviations. Start by identifying the cannabinoids that the product claims to contain and finding them on the report.
Step 4: Understand Percentage vs. Milligrams
This is where COAs can become confusing.
Depending on the product and laboratory report, cannabinoid results may be expressed using measurements such as percent by weight, milligrams per gram, or another concentration measurement.
Those numbers aren't interchangeable.
For example, flower may commonly display cannabinoid information as a percentage, while a formulated product may be easier to understand in terms of the amount contained in a serving or package.
Before comparing the COA with the product label, check the unit of measurement being used.
A number without its unit doesn't tell you enough.
Step 5: Understand THC and THCA
If you're reviewing a flower COA, you may see both THC and THCA listed.
They aren't the same compound.
THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid precursor found in cannabis. When exposed to sufficient heat, THCA can convert into THC through a process called decarboxylation.
That's one reason a COA may contain several different THC-related measurements rather than a single number.
When determining whether a hemp product meets applicable requirements, the relevant legal calculation may consider more than the Delta-9 THC number alone.
This is also why you shouldn't determine whether a product is legally compliant simply by finding one THC percentage on a COA.
Step 6: Look for the Testing Date
Cannabis and hemp products don't remain chemically identical forever.
Time and storage conditions can affect a product, particularly compounds that may be sensitive to factors such as heat, light, or oxygen.
The testing date tells you when the laboratory analyzed the submitted sample.
It doesn't necessarily tell you when the finished product was manufactured or how it has been stored since testing, so don't treat the test date as an expiration date.
It is simply another useful piece of context.
Step 7: Look at Other Testing Categories
Not every COA contains the same testing panels.
Depending on the product, laboratory, applicable requirements, and scope of testing, you may encounter sections addressing things such as:
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
- Residual solvents
- Microbial contaminants
- Mycotoxins
- Terpenes
If one of these sections appears, look for the laboratory's reported result and the corresponding limit or standard where one is provided.
Terms such as Pass, ND, LOQ, or LOD may also appear.
Rather than guessing what an abbreviation means, look for the laboratory's legend or key. Reporting conventions can vary.
What Does “ND” Mean on a COA?
ND commonly means Not Detected.
That doesn't necessarily mean the substance could not possibly exist in the sample at any concentration.
Laboratory instruments have detection limits. In general, “not detected” means the laboratory did not detect the substance at or above the applicable detection threshold used for that test.
That's a small distinction, but an important one.
“Not detected” and “does not exist” aren't necessarily the same statement.
What Do LOD and LOQ Mean?
You may also encounter:
LOD — Limit of Detection
This generally refers to the lowest concentration the laboratory's method can reliably identify as being present.
LOQ — Limit of Quantitation
This generally refers to the lowest concentration the method can reliably measure quantitatively.
You don't need to perform calculations with these numbers to make use of a COA.
Understanding what the abbreviations represent is usually enough for the average shopper.
Step 8: Compare the COA With the Product Label
Now bring everything together.
Look at what the package tells you and compare it with the corresponding laboratory information.
Ask:
Does the product or batch information match?
Are the cannabinoids advertised on the package reflected in the report?
Are you comparing the same units?
Does the report appear to correspond to the product you're actually considering?
The goal isn't to independently certify the product yourself.
It's to use the information available to better understand what you're purchasing.
What a COA Doesn't Tell You
This may be the most important section of the entire guide.
A COA can provide valuable information, but it doesn't tell you everything about a product.
It doesn't guarantee exactly how the product will affect you.
It doesn't automatically tell you whether you'll enjoy it.
It doesn't mean every possible substance was tested simply because the product has a laboratory report.
And a COA shouldn't automatically be interpreted as proof that a product is “safe” without understanding what was actually tested and what the results mean.
That's why we prefer “lab tested” to be the beginning of the conversation rather than the end of it.
A Simple COA Checklist
When you open a hemp COA, start with these questions:
- Does the product name match?
- Does the batch or lot information match?
- Who performed the testing?
- When was the sample tested?
- Which cannabinoids were measured?
- What units are being used?
- Does the cannabinoid information generally correspond with the product label?
- What additional testing was performed?
- Are there abbreviations or results I need to look up before interpreting them?
You don't need a chemistry degree to ask good questions.
Why Transparency Matters
The hemp and cannabis industry asks customers to interpret a lot of information.
A COA should help make that easier.
At Natural Aid, we believe product information should be accessible enough for customers to understand what they're considering. That's why testing documentation matters to us, but so does explaining what that documentation actually means.
Because transparency isn't simply making information available.
It's helping people understand how to use it.
This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not medical, scientific, or legal advice. Laboratory reports and testing requirements vary by product, jurisdiction, laboratory, and applicable regulations. Hemp and cannabis laws may change. Always review the information associated with the specific product or batch you're considering.
