How to read a CBD Product Lab Report

Have you ever bought a CBD product? If yes, then you must have received a piece of paper with numbers and technical jargon that go above your head. Well, that’s called a lab report or the Certificate of Analysis (COA). Most people don’t pay attention to the reports but it’s one of the most important pieces of information that determine whether or not the CBD product in your hand is as safe and good quality as the brand claims. 

Now, everyone who consumes CBD regularly must learn how to read a CBD product lab report. After all, it’s one way to be an aware consumer. But if you don’t, keep reading and you will be able to read a lab report by the end of this blog.

Why Do You Need to Read a COA?

CBD is not FDA regulated. This is one of the reasons why medical marijuana doctors do not ‘prescribe’ CBD. All CBD products in the market do not have a quality standard that they have to pass in order to be sold legally. With FDA regulations out of the picture, how do you determine if a CBD product meets quality and safety standards? With a Certificate of Analysis. 

As per the guidelines of the USDA and the State, it is necessary for all CBD products to be tested. So, most CBD manufacturing companies partner with third-party laboratories to test their products for safety and quality. These lab reports present details about different tests conducted on a product that is easily available for the consumers. You can access the report online on the company’s website and go through the details to make sure that quality and safety standards are met. 
Now, the main question is- do you know how to analyze a COA? If not, here’s a simple explanation on how to begin and read a lab report.

Check the Certification of the Laboratory

The first step is to check the name of the laboratory along with the address. It should be at the top of the report and clearly visible. Now, your job is to do a simple Google search and make sure that the laboratory is third-party accredited and has an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. 

It is extremely important that the tests are conducted by a third party. That’s because the whole purpose of third-party lab tests is to ensure that the reports are unbiased and present a true picture of the product and its composition. The ISO certification further ensures that the testing process meets international standards developed independently to ensure quality and safety. 

So, when buying CBD products, you should avoid using products without a lab report or one with reports that are labeled as ‘in-house’.

The footer of the lab report is also important and should contain the signature and license number of the laboratory as a means to clarify that they are accountable for all the results produced in the report.

First Things to Look For

After identifying the laboratory and its certification, your eye should move over to the header of the report. You can find a few sections at the top of the COA that will help you verify if the report is legit. 

Date of Report

The date of the report should be as recent as possible. Most brands conduct tests on their products after every six months. Do not accept COAs that are more than 3 years old as they are considered expired. 

Batch Number and Product Description

Products are manufactured in batches and each batch is tested by the labs. You must check the product description and the batch number on your product and the lab report to ensure that the report is of the product you have received. 

Pass or Fail Status

The next step is to check for the pass or fail status. 

As you go along the report, you will find names of different tests conducted on the product. If you do not like to go into the details, the least you can do is make sure that each test has a ‘pass’ or ‘passed’ under the status section. 

Cannabinoid and Terpene Analysis

CBD products have to go through cannabinoid and terpene analysis to give you a detailed picture about the different cannabinoids and terpenes present in the product. When reading this analysis, you need to take care of the following points:

• The total CBD in the report should match the claims on the label. 

• The total THC in full-spectrum CBD products should be less than 0.3% for the product to be Farm Bill Compliant. 

• Products labeled as CBD isolates and THC-free should have Non-Detectable (ND) levels of THC.

• The total terpene percentage should match the claims of the brand. 

You can go through the list to learn the different terpenes and cannabinoids present in the product and their potency and also have an idea about the effects and benefits you can expect. The results are represented in mg/g or mg/ml to tell you how many mg of cannabinoids or terpenes are in a gram or milliliter of a product.

Safety Tests

The safety of a CBD product is ensured by conducting a series of tests to check the presence or absence of harmful chemicals or contaminants that can be harmful or even fatal for the human body. 

In order for a CBD product to be safe for consumption, it should pass each of these tests conducted by third party labs:

• Pesticides

• Microbials

• Mycotoxins

• Solvents

• Heavy Metals

• Moisture and Water Activity

Your CBD product is safe to consume if the lab report says ‘passed’ for each of these safety tests. 

Takeaway

Reading the Certificate of Analysis is just as important as reading the label. It’s the only way you can identify scams from quality CBD products. From the potency of the product to the presence of harmful chemicals, it can help you learn about each of these important details. So, next time you receive a CBD product, be an aware consumer and do not forget to read the lab report.