A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is your single best tool for shopping hemp and cannabis confidently. This guide shows you how to match the right document to your product, decode potency math (Δ9 THC, THCA, “Total THC”), verify safety screens, and spot red flags—step by step.
Batch-Linked COAsISO-Accredited LabsFarm Bill Compliant
A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory report that confirms what’s inside a specific batch (or lot) of product. It typically includes:
Potency Panel
Shows cannabinoid content—Δ9 THC, THCA, CBD, minor cannabinoids, and totals—usually reported as percentages (% by weight), mg/g, or mg per serving.
Safety Panels
Looks for residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, and sometimes mycotoxins. For vapes, you may also see tests for Vitamin E acetate and cutting agents.
Identity
Shows product name, sample type (flower, edible, vape), batch/lot number, harvest or manufacture date, and test date.
Lab Credentials
Lists the lab’s ISO accreditation or other quality standards plus a digital signature/QC sign-off. Many labs provide a QR code to verify the document on their website.
Why it matters: In Texas, hemp products must contain ≤ 0.3% Δ9 THC by dry weight at the time of testing. A COA is your evidence that a batch complies with the federal definition of hemp.
Step 1 — Match Your Product & Batch
The most common mistake is reading a COA for the wrong product. Start here:
Find the batch/lot number on your package label.
Open the COA and confirm the same batch/lot number appears on page 1 (or the header).
Confirm the product name & type match—e.g., “Indoor THCA Flower, 3.5g,” “THCA Diamonds,” “Delta-9 Gummies (hemp-derived),” or “THCP Disposable 1g.”
Check net weight/unit count so serving calculations later make sense.
If the numbers don’t match, treat the COA as not applicable to your item.
Step 2 — Verify the Lab & Dates
Compliance depends on what the lab measured at a specific time. Verify:
Test Date Should be recent and post-harvest/manufacture.
Accreditation Look for ISO/IEC 17025 or similar.
QR/Hash Scan and confirm the report on the lab’s site.
Signature Quality manager or analyst sign-off.
Beware: PDFs can be altered. Use the COA’s QR code or direct link to view the canonical record on the lab’s website.
Step 3 — Decode Potency Panels
Potency is where most confusion happens. Here’s how to read the numbers like a pro.
Key terms you’ll see
Δ9 THC — the psychoactive cannabinoid used for legal compliance (≤ 0.3% by dry weight under federal hemp law).
THCA — the non-psychoactive acidic precursor to Δ9 THC. Heat converts THCA → Δ9 THC (decarboxylation).
Total Cannabinoids — sum of all measured cannabinoids.
Total THC — often shown as Δ9 THC + 0.877 × THCA (an estimate of potential THC after full decarb). Some states regulate using “Total THC”; federal hemp law focuses on Δ9 THC measured directly. Always check the rule that applies to you.
Units — % (w/w), mg/g, mg/mL, mg per serving, or mg per package. Read the unit label carefully.
Flower & Pre-rolls
Confirm Δ9 THC ≤ 0.3% (dry weight) to meet federal hemp definition at time of sale.
Expect most potency to appear as THCA%. That’s normal for raw flower.
Some labs show both “as-received” and “dry-weight” values; understand which column applies to compliance.
Gummies & Edibles
Look for mg of Δ9 per piece and confirm the item remains ≤ 0.3% Δ9 by weight.
Check servings per package and mg per serving math: mg/serving × servings = mg/package.
For hemp-derived Δ9, labels often state the per-piece weight basis used to show compliance.
Vapes & Disposables
Potency shown as mg/mL or %. Confirm cannabinoids align with the product (e.g., THCA, THCP).
Review residual solvent and cutting agent sections (see Safety below).
Concentrates (Diamonds, Live Resin, Crumble, Shatter)
Expect very high THCA%. Δ9 may still be low pre-decarb.
Scrutinize the solvent panel (diamonds/resin often require extraction).
Quick math you’ll use
Potential THC (post-decarb) ≈ Δ9 + 0.877 × THCA
Total mg in a jar (flower) (% THCA × weight in mg) ÷ 100 → for 3.5g (3500 mg) at 22% THCA ≈ 770 mg THCA.
Per-piece edible check mg per piece × pieces should match the “mg per package” line on the COA.
Texas context: The federal hemp definition and common Texas practice focus on Δ9 THC ≤ 0.3% by dry weight at testing. Some jurisdictions use “Total THC.” Always follow the strictest rule that applies to you.