Although certificates of analysis are an important aspect of CBD products, many people find them difficult to understand. A COA is a certificate given by an authorized laboratory that defines the whole composition of a product. You may have seen a few by now, but if you’re unfamiliar with the word, it’s a document that specifies the full content of a product. CBD brands often boast about how pure their products are, therefore a COA is crucial when judging a brand’s reliability and the items they offer.
A Certificate of Analysis for CBD should include a complete list of cannabinoids, contaminant levels, terpenes, and any potential pollutants including pesticides, solvent residue, or heavy metals. You need to learn how to read it before you find a COA. This article can help you with that.
Check Who Tested The Product
When studying a COA, the most critical step is to confirm who performed the test. It shouldn’t be a firm or a manufacturer, certainly not the one that produces the product. Only an authorized laboratory is capable of providing exact outcomes that you can trust when making a purchasing decision. You should also be able to locate data about the testing itself, like when was it conducted, who conducted it, and who requested it.
Look For Important Terms
Unless you’re a really science-oriented person, we’re willing to guess that you don’t hear the phrase analyte very often in your daily life. If you’re not familiar with the term, it simply refers to the type of substance being examined. A column of largely three-letter acronyms will usually be found. CBG, CBC, and CBN are examples of cannabinoids found in your product. These are all CBD’s relatives, and each has its own set of characteristics.
Check How Much CBD Is Present In The Product
If the COA you’re considering checks all the boxes so far — a third-party laboratory, a batch ID, set limits, and a paragraph on contaminants – you’re dealing with a company that prioritizes safety. The next thing you need to consider is the cannabinoids themselves. You should check the certificate of a CBD product and understand which cannabinoids are present and how much are they present.
Final Thoughts
It is very important to read the Certificate of Analysis when buying a CBD oil product from a brand that you are not familiar with. If you find that they tested their products in their in-house lab, do not buy that product.