Confused on how to read a certificate of analysis (CoA) for CBD, or simply a CBD CoA? You’ve come to the right spot! Let’s discuss exactly what a certificate of analysis (CoA) is, and why it’s crucial to read before consuming your CBD items.
What is a CBD Certificate of Analysis?
A certificate of analysis (CoA) for CBD is a laboratory report that provides crucial details about the CBD product, including all phytochemical (plant chemical) compounds within it. This certificate is obtained from a third-party lab and includes information such as CBD concentration, as well as the levels of chemicals tested, including pesticides, heavy metals, and microbiological compounds.
The primary purpose of a CBD oil CoA is to ensure that all hemp extracts contain the required concentration of these chemicals. It is important to know what is inside CBD products before consuming them, especially for pain relief. Without regulation, it can be risky to consume CBD gummies or other products without a CoA.
PLEASE NOTE: For your safety, DO NOT purchase any products that don’t have a CoA.
Why is the CoA so important?
The CBD industry continuously introduces new products to the market, making it somewhat hard to find great items. To guarantee the safety of consumers and prevent the manufacturing of substandard products, all CBD oil items should come with a certificate of analysis.
The CoA provides crucial information such as heavy metal and pesticide levels, cannabinoid contents, and other areas. Third-party CoAs ensure the accuracy of these numbers, producing higher quality products. Consumers must verify the ingredients and CBD amounts from the CoA rather than relying solely on the product label. Let’s delve further into how to read a certificate of analysis for CBD.
Third Party Lab Tests Provide a Certificate of Analysis for CBD
The main thing about a CoA is that it’s considered a third party test. This means that the laboratory doing the tests is different than the company who made the product. This is important because the producer of the product should have no influence over the test results.
The third party lab will only produce the report for the company who made the product – nothing more. A CBD certificate of analysis will have a QR code on in that can link anyone to that same report which is kept on file at the laboratory’s database of reports.
This same QR code should be on the labels of any CBD oils, for example, from that lot.
The pictures above show some different examples of QR codes, and where you can find them on products. You should always be able to find these on either the box of the item, or directly on the label of the item.
How to Read a Certificate of Analysis for CBD Products
When you first see a certificate of analysis, you’ll notice a name of the laboratory that conducts the testing. This is the company that does all of the testing, and provides the report you are reading.
Another thing you will observe is the company client’s address that is selling the product with a QR code that can easily be scanned at any time to ascertain the lab report and verify its authenticity. The QR is regarded as a security measure that ensures the lab result is genuine, and can be found on product packaging.
This same QR code, as mentioned above, should be on the product label. The batch or lot number of the certificate of analysis should match the label.
If this is not the case, immediately contact the company you bought the CBD product from and as for a full refund. If there is no QR code on the label, please ask for a refund as well.
An excellent certificate of analysis for CBD is supposed to possess the following reports about the CBD to be tested…
1. Cannabinoid List Profile Section
The cannabinoid profile of a sample, as the name implies, provides a list of cannabinoids discovered in the sample and their concentration level in the CBD.
Many people take this as the most crucial part of the CBD certificate of analysis, as it provides consumers with general information about the most active ingredients in the product. While this is important, it is not the only thing you should pay attention to.
For example, if you buy broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD, wouldn’t you want to make sure that’s what you are getting? Don’t fall victim to companies selling CBD isolate as full spectrum CBD.
You should make sure that the product contains 0.3% THC, or less, otherwise it’s considered illegal.
Why?
The Farm Bill of 2018 decriminalized hemp, and hemp products, so long as their THC content is at the legal limit of 0.3% or less.
If the content is over that amount, the product is federally illegal. Plain and simple. Unless you live in a recreational marijuana state, or have a medical marijuana card, you are breaking the law by possessing that item.
Also, make sure the total CBD value is at least the same content as what’s advertised on the product you bought. For example, if you purchased a tincture that advertises 500mg of CBD, make sure there is at least 500mg of CBD on the CoA.
Use the cannabinoid profile above to practice looking for different cannabinoid contents. It’s pretty simple.
2. Heavy Metal Analysis Section
Heavy metals are often carcinogenic, i.e., compounds tending to cause cancer.
They are most times tested to determine the safety level of the product. The heavy metal analysis is a table that shows the chemicals tested for, by revealing their names, the concentration of sample measured, and recommended limits (if they product tests positive).
A positive test result on a heavy metal doesn’t necessarily mean the CBD product is immediately dangerous, but a high-quality CBD product will test as “NT”, or no trace. That means there is no trace of any element being tested.
New Phase Blends recommends, for the safety of the consumer, to stay away from products if their certificate of analysis shows the presence of heavy metals. This just means there are far too many residual solvents in the CBD oil product.
3. Pesticide Analysis Section
This part of the certificate of analysis for CBD provides you with a list of already tested pesticides in a product sample. Pesticide analysis is measured in part per billion (PPB).
Excess pesticides that were used growing the hemp can stick around and remain in the CBD products that we consume. We have to be very careful not to consume residual pesticide content.
4. Terpene Profile Section
The cannabis plant possesses a few different elements: cannabinoids, essential oils, and terpenes. Terpenes are famous for their unique influence on both aroma and flavor.
The terpene profile analysis shows the class of terpenes that are detected in the test sample. It also reveals the relative amount in percentage weight. This analysis may provide the user with the general idea of how their CBD product will smell or taste.
There is extensive research going into the development of different terpenes and how the may influence other physiological factors. Very little peer-reviewed evidence exists yet to support these claims on terpenes, but it is an exciting field to follow.
PLEASE NOTE: For your safety, DO NOT purchase any products that don’t have a CoA.
Some labs may have even more testing sections that show further information in their certificates of analysis for CBD products. The sections mentioned above are the most common, and widely accepted as a “full-panel”, or full analysis.
If you have any more question on how to read certificates of analysis for CBD products, please let us know!
Summary – Reading a CBD Oil CoA
While the certificate of analysis (CoA) might look scary, it’s really not. Most all CoA’s follow the same guidelines, and use the same measurements.
Almost all of the profile sections are the same, too. That said, it’s very important to read them, especially when buying from a specific company for the first time.
There are far too many companies out there trying to sell things like hemp seed oil under the guise of a genuine CBD oil product. This is a pure scam, and now that you know how to read a CoA you can avoid it completely.
New Phase Blends depends heavily on certificates of analysis to provide scientifically-backed report on just how great our products are. Whether you decide to use our popular CBD and melatonin mixture for sleep, or the vegan certified softgels – you’re in goods hands. All of our products come with a 30 day money back guarantee, too. What do you have to lose?
Before you go, if you’re interested in purchasing any hemp-based CBD products, please check out our store by clicking on the banner above. If you aren’t signed up to receive updates like this and exclusive discounts on our products, please visit our homepage at www.www.newphaseblends.com and subscribe!
