How to Read a Hemp Product COA: A Complete Guide

A certificate of analysis, usually shortened to COA, is a laboratory report showing what was detected in a tested product or sample.

For hemp products, a COA can answer several important questions:

Which cannabinoids were measured?
How much THC or CBD did the laboratory report?
Does the report match the product and batch being sold?
Were contaminants tested?
Did those contaminant tests pass?
When was the sample tested?
Which laboratory performed the analysis?

Every Pine Park product has a COA. That allows customers to review batch-specific laboratory information instead of relying entirely on the product name, front label, or description.

A COA can still look intimidating. Laboratory reports contain percentages, milligrams, abbreviations, reporting limits, test methods, and dense tables of results. This guide explains how to read those sections and what to check before purchasing a hemp product.

What is a COA?

A COA is a document produced by a laboratory after it analyzes a sample.

In the hemp industry, the sample is usually taken from a production batch or lot. Depending on the requested analysis, the laboratory may test the sample for:

Cannabinoid potency
Terpenes
Pesticides
Heavy metals
Residual solvents
Microorganisms
Mycotoxins
Moisture or water activity
Foreign material

Not every laboratory report includes every test. A potency-only COA, for example, may show cannabinoid concentrations without including pesticides, metals, solvents, or microbial results.

That does not mean those tests passed. It means they are not shown on that report.

Before drawing a conclusion, identify exactly which panels were performed.

Start with the product information

Before examining cannabinoid percentages, confirm that the report belongs to the product in front of you.

Look near the top of the first page for:

Product name
Sample name
Batch or lot number
Sample identification number
Product type
Manufacturer or client name
Date received
Date tested
Date reported

Names are not always identical across the packaging and laboratory report. A laboratory may use an internal sample name, abbreviated product name, or production code.

The batch or lot number is usually the most useful point of comparison. The number on the COA should match the batch identifier shown on the package, product label, or online COA listing.

If a website displays one general report for a product manufactured across many batches, the report may not describe the exact batch currently being sold.

Check the laboratory

The COA should clearly identify the laboratory that performed the analysis.

Look for:

Laboratory name
Physical address
Contact information
License number, if applicable
Accreditation information
Authorized signature
Report or certificate number

One widely recognized laboratory standard is ISO/IEC 17025. The International Organization for Standardization describes it as the international standard covering the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories.

Accreditation does not guarantee that every result is perfect. It indicates that an accrediting body has evaluated the laboratory against a defined quality standard and scope.

The scope matters. A laboratory may be accredited for some methods or analytes but not others. If you want to investigate further, check the accreditation certificate and scope rather than looking only for an ISO logo.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology also operates a Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance Program designed to help laboratories evaluate and improve cannabinoid and contaminant measurements.

Find the cannabinoid potency panel

The potency panel shows which cannabinoids were included in the analysis and how much of each one the laboratory measured.

Common entries include:

THCA
Delta-9 THC
Delta-8 THC
CBDA
CBD
CBGA
CBG
CBCA
CBC
CBN
THCV
CBDV

The exact list depends on the laboratory’s method. If a cannabinoid does not appear in the table, do not assume the laboratory tested for it.

Cannabinoids shown as “ND” were tested but not detected above the laboratory’s stated reporting threshold. A blank field can mean something different, including that the analyte was not included or no result was reported.

Understand percentages and milligrams per gram

Potency results are commonly displayed as a percentage, milligrams per gram, or both.

The basic conversion is:

1% by weight = 10 milligrams per gram

That means:

0.1% = 1 mg/g
1% = 10 mg/g
10% = 100 mg/g
20% = 200 mg/g
25% = 250 mg/g

If a tested plant sample reports 22% THCA, that is approximately 220 milligrams of THCA per gram of tested material.

This conversion does not automatically tell you the total amount in the entire package. To estimate that, the concentration must be multiplied by the product’s weight.

For example, a 3.5-gram package tested at 200 mg/g would contain an estimated:

200 mg/g × 3.5 g = 700 mg

That calculation is an estimate based on the tested sample and reported concentration. Natural plant material can vary within a batch, and the specific contents of a package may not be identical to the portion analyzed by the laboratory.

Why packaged products may use different units

Some finished products are easier to understand in milligrams per piece, serving, unit, or container.

A report might show:

10 mg per gummy
100 mg per package
5 mg per serving
10 mg per can
400 mg per device
800 mg per jar

Do not assume that “per serving” and “per container” mean the same thing.

A package containing 25 pieces at 10 milligrams each contains 250 milligrams across the complete package. The serving size may be one piece, half a piece, or another amount shown on the label.

When possible, compare three numbers:

The laboratory’s measured concentration
The package’s actual weight or volume
The amount claimed on the product label

THCA and delta-9 THC are separate results

THCA and delta-9 THC usually appear on separate lines because they are different chemical compounds.

THCA is the acidic precursor to delta-9 THC. Heat can convert a portion of THCA into delta-9 THC through decarboxylation.

That is why a report can show a low delta-9 THC result while showing a much larger amount of THCA.

Do not add the two numbers together directly. Laboratories commonly estimate potential total THC using this formula:

Total THC = delta-9 THC + (THCA × 0.877)

The 0.877 conversion factor accounts for the difference in molecular weight when THCA converts into delta-9 THC.

For example, if a sample reports:

THCA: 20.00%
Delta-9 THC: 0.20%

The calculation would be:

0.20 + (20.00 × 0.877) = 17.74% total THC

Some laboratories calculate and display total THC automatically. Others report only the individual cannabinoid results.

Always check the report’s definitions and calculation notes. A laboratory may use “total THC,” “potential THC,” or a similar label.

Total CBD uses a similar calculation

CBD products may contain both CBD and CBDA.

Potential total CBD is commonly calculated as:

Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA × 0.877)

As with total THC, the laboratory may perform this calculation automatically.

This distinction is especially useful when comparing raw plant material with finished products. Unheated plant material may contain more acidic cannabinoids such as THCA and CBDA, while processed formulations may contain more delta-9 THC or CBD.

What do ND, LOD and LOQ mean?

Three abbreviations appear frequently on laboratory reports.

ND: Not detected

“ND” usually means the laboratory did not detect the analyte at or above its stated reporting threshold.

It does not always mean the sample contains an absolute zero amount.

LOD: Limit of detection

The limit of detection is the lowest level at which the laboratory’s method can reliably distinguish that an analyte is present.

A result below the LOD may be indistinguishable from background noise.

LOQ: Limit of quantitation

The limit of quantitation is the lowest level at which the laboratory can report the amount with acceptable accuracy and precision.

A compound can sometimes be detected below the LOQ without being measured precisely enough to provide a reliable numerical result.

Reports may use additional terms such as:

RL: Reporting limit
LOQ or QL: Quantitation limit
ULOQ: Upper limit of quantitation
Trace: Detected below the laboratory’s normal reporting level
NT: Not tested

Always look for the report’s legend. Abbreviations are not perfectly standardized across every laboratory.

How to read a pesticide panel

A pesticide panel lists the individual compounds included in the laboratory’s method.

Each row may contain:

Pesticide name
Measured result
Action limit
Reporting limit
Pass or fail status

The action limit is the maximum level used by that testing program to determine whether the sample passes.

A “Pass” result usually means none of the listed pesticides exceeded the laboratory’s applicable action limits. It does not necessarily mean that every possible pesticide was tested or that the product contains an absolute zero amount of every listed compound.

Check the complete analyte list instead of relying only on a large “Pass” badge at the top of the page.

How to read heavy-metal results

Heavy-metal panels commonly include:

Lead
Cadmium
Arsenic
Mercury

Results may be reported in parts per million, abbreviated ppm, or micrograms per gram.

For solid samples:

1 ppm is generally equivalent to 1 microgram per gram

The report should show the measured result and the action limit used for comparison.

Hemp plants can absorb substances from soil, water, fertilizers, and the surrounding environment. Heavy-metal analysis is therefore different from cannabinoid potency testing and requires its own laboratory method.

NIST has specifically studied toxic-element measurement as part of its cannabis laboratory quality-assurance work.

What are residual solvents?

Residual-solvent testing is mainly relevant to products made using chemical extraction or processing solvents.

Commonly tested solvents include:

Butane
Propane
Ethanol
Methanol
Hexane
Heptane
Acetone

A result below the reporting limit may appear as ND. A detected amount may still pass if it remains below the applicable action limit.

The presence of a solvent name on the report does not mean that solvent was detected. It may simply be part of the laboratory’s standard testing panel.

Solventless products can still have a residual-solvent panel, but the expected results and manufacturing process are different.

What do microbial and mycotoxin tests show?

Microbial testing looks for organisms or indicators such as:

Total yeast and mold
E. coli
Salmonella
Aspergillus species
Aerobic bacteria
Bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain molds. Common targets include aflatoxins and ochratoxin A.

Results may be qualitative, such as “Detected” or “Not Detected,” or quantitative, showing colony-forming units per gram.

Read the panel carefully. A report that tests only total yeast and mold does not automatically establish that it tested for every named microorganism.

What are water activity and moisture content?

Moisture content reports how much water is present in the sample by weight.

Water activity measures how available that water is to support microbial growth and chemical changes. It is usually shown as a value between 0 and 1.

These measurements are related, but they are not interchangeable.

This distinction is especially relevant for plant material. NIST’s cannabis quality-assurance work has found that drying methods and moisture measurements can affect the accuracy and comparability of laboratory results.

What does “Pass” actually mean?

A passing result means the sample met the criteria applied by the laboratory for that specific panel.

It does not necessarily mean:

Every possible contaminant was tested
Every analyte was completely absent
Every unit in the production batch was individually tested
The report applies to a different batch
The product was approved by a federal agency
The laboratory evaluated labeling, packaging, or marketing claims

A COA is evidence from an analytical test. It should be read within the limits of the sample, method, reporting thresholds, and panels shown.

How to spot a questionable COA

Pause and investigate if you notice:

No laboratory name
No product or sample name
No batch or lot number
A batch number that does not match the package
Missing test or report dates
A report that is several years old
Cropped pages or screenshots
No explanation of units
No LOD, LOQ, or reporting limits
Potency numbers without an analyte table
A “Pass” badge without supporting results
A QR code that opens a homepage instead of the report
A report that appears edited
Several unrelated products using the same report
A claim that “full panel” testing was completed when only potency appears
Cannabinoids advertised on the label that are absent from the report

One inconsistency does not automatically prove that a product is unsafe or a report is fraudulent. It means you need more information before relying on the document.

How Pine Park uses COAs

Every Pine Park product has a COA.

Customers can review laboratory information when shopping Pine Park’s:

New releases are collected on the Friday Drop page.

The exact testing panels can vary by product. Customers should read the entire report to see what was tested instead of assuming that every product received an identical panel.

Providing the report allows customers to check the product identity, reported cannabinoid profile, testing date, batch information, and any additional panels included by the laboratory.

A 60-second COA checklist

If you do not want to analyze every number, use this quick review:

Does the product name match?
Does the batch or lot number match?
Is the laboratory clearly identified?
Is the report current for the product being sold?
Which testing panels were performed?
Are the units shown clearly?
What are the THCA and delta-9 THC results?
Is total THC reported or calculable?
Are ND, LOD and LOQ defined?
Do contaminant results show the measured amount and action limit?
Are all pages included?
Does the QR code open the complete report?

If those details are present and consistent, you have a much stronger basis for understanding the product.

The main takeaway

A COA is useful because it replaces vague assurances with measurable information.

Start by matching the product and batch. Confirm the laboratory and dates. Identify which panels were actually performed. Then examine the potency units, cannabinoid results, reporting limits, and contaminant tables.

Do not treat “ND” as guaranteed absolute zero, and do not treat a large “Pass” badge as a substitute for reading the report. Most importantly, make sure the COA belongs to the product and batch you are considering.

Every Pine Park product has a COA because customers should be able to see the available laboratory data for themselves. Once you know how to read the report, it becomes one of the most useful tools for comparing hemp products and understanding exactly what a laboratory measured.