How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA) Like a Pro

A Certificate of Analysis is the single best tool a hemp shopper has. It tells you exactly what's in the product you're about to buy — potency, purity, and whether the batch passed safety screening. Here's how to read one in under two minutes.

What a COA Is

A COA is a lab report generated by an accredited third-party lab (never the seller's own lab). It documents the cannabinoid content and safety screening for a specific production batch. At Hemp1848, every product we sell has one — and every report is published on our Lab Results page.

Step 1: Match the Batch Number

The COA should list a batch number that matches the batch number printed on your product packaging. If they don't match, the report doesn't describe what you're holding. Legitimate retailers make this easy: we print the batch number on every COA we list.

Step 2: Read the Cannabinoid Panel

This is the heart of the report. Look for:

• THCA — the raw, non-psychoactive cannabinoid in hemp flower
• Delta-9 THC — must be under 0.3% dry weight for the product to qualify as legal hemp
• Total THC — the potential potency after heating; this is the number most flower shoppers care about
• CBD and minor cannabinoids — CBG, CBN, and CBC contribute to the product's overall profile

Step 3: Check the Safety Screening

Potency without purity means nothing. Scroll to the safety panel and confirm the batch passed:

• Pesticide screening
• Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury)
• Microbial contaminants (mold, yeast, E. coli, salmonella)
• Residual solvents (for extracts and vape products)

Every category should read "Pass." A failed or missing safety panel is a red flag, no matter how good the potency looks.

Step 4: Verify the Lab

The report should name an accredited lab — such as Marin Analytics, Badger Labs, or Harrens Lab — with a testing date. Be suspicious of reports with no lab letterhead, no date, or results that can't be traced.

Why We Publish Every Report

Transparency is the whole point of the hemp industry's second act. When you buy from us, you're never guessing: the batch number on your jar links to a third-party report you can read yourself. Browse our lab-tested collection, or explore the full library of COAs and lab results.