What Is a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
A Certificate of Analysis is a document from an independent, third-party laboratory that verifies the contents of a CBD product. It’s the most important quality document in the cannabinoid industry and should be available for every batch of every product you purchase.
Key Sections of a COA
1. Cannabinoid Profile (Potency Testing)
This section shows the concentration of each cannabinoid present. For CBD Isolate, you should see 99%+ CBD with all other cannabinoids at or near zero. For broad spectrum products, you’ll see multiple cannabinoids listed with THC at Non-Detectable levels.
2. THC Compliance
The COA should clearly show THC levels. “ND” (Non-Detectable) or “<LOQ” (Below Limit of Quantitation) means no THC was found. For US compliance, total THC must be below 0.3%. For Japan, it must be absolutely zero.
3. Contaminant Testing
A comprehensive COA includes testing for: heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium), pesticides, residual solvents, and microbial contamination. All results should show “Pass” or levels below established safety thresholds.
4. Lab Accreditation
Check that the testing laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited. This ensures the lab follows international standards for testing competence.
Red Flags on a COA
- No lab name or accreditation information
- Missing batch number or sample ID
- Only potency testing (no contaminant panels)
- Old dates (COAs should be recent for the batch you’re purchasing)
- In-house testing only (always insist on third-party)
Download Real COAs
Cannvital publishes third-party COAs for every product. Visit our COA Library to download and review real certificates of analysis.