How to read a Certificate of Analysis without a chemistry degree

A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is a lab report for one specific batch. It sounds boring. It is actually the most useful document in the box, and you can read it in five minutes. Let us go.

1. Match the batch number

The batch number on the COA must match the batch number printed on your pack. If they do not match, the report is for someone else's tin. Cute, but useless.

2. Check who tested it and when

Look for the lab's name, the test date, and whether the lab is accredited. In India, NABL accreditation is the one to look for. A report from "Sharma Ji Testing Services" with no address deserves a raised eyebrow.

3. Look at the cannabinoid numbers

You will see rows for compounds like CBD and THC, usually in mg per gram or as a percentage. You do not need to memorise them. Just check they make sense against what the label says.

4. Look for the safety tests

Good COAs also check for heavy metals, pesticides, microbes and residual solvents, and show a pass or within-limit result for each.

5. Ask for it

We share the COA for your batch whenever you ask. Just message us your batch number. If any brand gets awkward when you ask for a COA, that awkwardness is your answer.