How to Read a COA (Certificate of Analysis) for CBD

Marketing says whatever it likes; the certificate of analysis (COA) says what is actually in the bottle. Every legitimate CBD seller can produce one per batch — ours are available on request for every product. Here is how to read one in 90 seconds.

1 · Match the batch

The COA should carry a batch or lot number that matches the one printed on your product, a test date, and the name of an independent laboratory — not the seller's own in-house lab. A generic COA with no batch number proves nothing.

2 · The cannabinoid table

This is the core of the document. Look for:

• CBD content — does the measured mg match the label claim? A 1000 mg bottle testing at 640 mg is a fail; ±10% is normal tolerance.
• Total THC — for Australian low-THC hemp products this must sit below the applicable threshold. "ND" means not detected.
• Minor cannabinoids (CBG, CBC, CBN) — their presence is what distinguishes a real full or broad spectrum extract from an isolate sold at spectrum prices.

3 · The contaminant panels

Good COAs go beyond cannabinoids: heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), pesticides, residual solvents and microbials. Hemp is a bioaccumulator — it pulls metals out of soil — so this panel matters more than it does for most crops.

4 · Quick red flags

• No COA available, or "trust us" answers when you ask.
• One COA reused across every product in the shop.
• A COA showing potency only, with no contaminant testing.
• Results from the seller's own laboratory.

Reading a COA takes less time than reading reviews, and it is the only part of a CBD listing that is signed by a chemist. Make it a habit before every purchase — including with us.