What Should a Hemp COA Show?

A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is the official document a testing lab issues after analyzing your hemp sample. It is the primary record you will use to demonstrate compliance, market your product, and identify any issues before your crop or batch moves to the next stage.

Not all COAs are created equal. Here is what a complete, reliable hemp COA should contain.

Lab Information and Accreditation

The first thing to check on any COA is who issued it. Look for:

• The lab's full name and address
• An accreditation number or statement (ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is the standard most state programs and buyers require)
• A contact phone number or email for the issuing lab

Results from a non-accredited lab may not be accepted by your state agency or by buyers who require third-party verified testing. Accreditation means the lab's methods, equipment, and personnel have been independently audited against a recognized standard.

Sample Identification

Every COA should clearly identify the specific sample being reported. This section should include:

• Sample ID: the unique identifier assigned to your sample at submission
• Lot ID or Batch Number: ties the COA back to a specific production lot
• Date received by the lab
• Date of analysis
• Sample description (flower, biomass, concentrate, etc.)
• Client name or license number

If any of these fields are missing or do not match your records, contact the lab before using the COA. A mismatch between your records and the COA can create compliance problems down the line.

Potency Results and the Delta-9 THC Number

For hemp, the most important number on the COA is delta-9 THC. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is legally defined as cannabis containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis. Anything above that threshold is legally considered marijuana regardless of your intent.

What to look for on the potency section:

• Delta-9 THC %: this is your compliance number. It must be at or below 0.3% (dry weight) for the crop to be legally classified as hemp.
• Dry weight vs. wet weight: make sure the result is reported on a dry-weight basis. Some labs report on wet weight, which will show a lower percentage and may not satisfy your state's compliance requirements.
• Total CBD and CBDA: relevant for processors and product manufacturers who need cannabinoid content for labeling.
• ND (Not Detected): means the compound was tested for but was below the lab's detection limit. This is a clean result for pesticides, solvents, and pathogens.

Additional Tests: What Each Section Means

Microbiology

A micro panel screens for pathogenic organisms including Aspergillus species, Salmonella, E. coli (STEC), and Listeria. Each pathogen will show a Pass or Fail result. Any fail on microbiology means the product cannot be sold without remediation or destruction.

Pesticide Screening

Pesticide results are listed compound by compound, each with a measured concentration and an action level. Results below the action level pass; results above fail. ND (Not Detected) is the cleanest possible result. Review this section carefully if your growing operation uses any pest management products.

Residual Solvents

Required for any hemp extract or concentrate processed using chemical solvents (butane, propane, ethanol, etc.). Results are listed by solvent with measured concentration and action level. This test is typically not required for raw flower or biomass.

Terpene Profiling

Terpene results are not a pass/fail test. They report the concentration of individual terpenes, which adds market value to your COA by differentiating your cultivar and informing buyers about aroma and effect profile. This is an optional but increasingly requested test for hemp flower sold to retail customers.

The Pass/Fail Summary

Most well-formatted COAs include an overall Pass or Fail summary at the top. A Pass means all tested analytes came in at or below their applicable action levels. A Fail on any single test means the batch does not meet compliance requirements for sale.

If your COA shows a Fail, contact the lab to understand exactly which analyte failed and by how much. Some results are close enough to warrant a retest on a second sample from the same lot. Others indicate a more significant issue with the batch.