How to Read a Cannabis COA (Lab Report)
A plain-English guide to reading a cannabis Certificate of Analysis — cannabinoids, terpenes, and the contaminant tests that actually matter.
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Common questions.
What is a COA?
A Certificate of Analysis is a third-party lab report showing a product’s cannabinoid and terpene content plus contaminant screening. Reputable products link or print a batch-specific COA.
What contaminants does a COA test for?
A complete panel covers pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, microbials, and mycotoxins. "Pass" results across all of these are what you want to see.
Does the THC number on a COA match the package?
It should be close. Regulations allow a tolerance window, but a label wildly higher than its COA is a red flag worth questioning.
How do I find a product’s COA?
Look for a QR code or batch number on the package, or search the brand’s site by batch. If a brand won’t provide one, treat that as a reason to walk away.