A COA (certificate of analysis) is a lab report on one batch of product. It tells you what is in the product and how much. At Frosted, the COA is linked on the product page whenever we have one, and every report is listed on our Lab reports page.
Check these five things first
- The product and batch match. The product name and batch or lot number on the report should match what you are buying.
- The lab is independent. Look for the lab’s name, address and accreditation, usually ISO/IEC 17025.
- The test date. A recent date means the report reflects the current batch.
- The potency table. This lists each cannabinoid and how much the sample contains.
- The other panels. Some reports also test for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents and microbes. Each shows Pass or Fail.
Reading the potency table
Potency is shown as a percent of dry weight for flower, or as mg per serving or per package for edibles. You will see a few common terms:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| ND | Not detected. The lab found none above its limit. |
| LOQ | Limit of quantitation. The smallest amount the lab can measure reliably. |
| LOD | Limit of detection. The smallest amount the lab can detect at all. |
| Dry weight | The result with moisture removed, so batches compare fairly. |
Total THC on a flower report
Flower reports list THCA and Delta-9 THC separately. Many reports also show Total THC, which uses a standard formula:
Total THC = Delta-9 THC + (THCA × 0.877)
Example: a flower with 25% THCA and 0.2% Delta-9 THC has a Total THC of 0.2 + (25 × 0.877) = 22.1%.
The 0.877 factor accounts for the weight THCA loses when heat turns it into Delta-9 THC.
Questions about a report
If a product page has no COA or a report is hard to read, email us at herbalxchange@gmail.com with the product name.
Adults 21+ only.