How to Read a Cannabis COA (Certificate of Analysis)
What a COA is — and who should issue it
A Certificate of Analysis is a lab report for one specific production batch. It should come from a third-party, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory — not the manufacturer’s own bench. The document lists what was tested, the method, the result, and whether the batch passed.
The batch or lot number on the COA must match the number printed on your device’s packaging. A COA without a matching batch number proves nothing about the product in your hand.
The potency panel
Potency results list each cannabinoid — delta-9 THC, THCA, CBD, and minor cannabinoids — as a percentage by weight. Total THC combines delta-9 THC with THCA’s converted potential (THCA × 0.877), which is the number to compare across products.
Be skeptical of round, suspiciously high numbers. Legitimate distillate and diamond-sauce vapes generally land in the 75–95% total cannabinoid range; claims meaningfully above that deserve a hard look at the issuing lab.
THCA vs THC: why the 0.877 math mattersThe safety panels most people skip
Potency sells, but the safety panels are why COAs exist. A full-panel COA covers pesticides, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury), residual solvents from extraction, and microbials like mold and salmonella. Each analyte shows a result against an action limit and a pass/fail status.
"ND" means not detected; "<LOQ" means below the limit of quantification — both are what you want to see. A COA that only shows potency, with no safety panels, is a marketing document, not a lab report.
The two-minute check before you buy
Scan the QR code on the packaging. Confirm the batch number matches. Confirm the lab is third-party and accredited. Check Total THC for potency, then scan the pesticide, heavy-metal, solvent, and microbial panels for PASS. That’s it — four checks, two minutes, and you know exactly what you’re inhaling.
Every NUUG BAR and DRIZZLERS batch publishes its full-panel COA before it ships. If it isn’t tested, it doesn’t leave the lab.
Look up the COA for your batchCommon Questions
What does ND mean on a COA?
"Not detected" — the analyte was not found above the method’s detection limit. For contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals, ND is the ideal result.
How do I verify a COA is real?
Match the batch number to your packaging, confirm the lab exists and is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, and when in doubt contact the lab directly with the report number — accredited labs will confirm whether they issued it.
What should Total THC be on a vape COA?
Quality distillate and THCA diamond vapes typically test between roughly 75% and 95% total cannabinoids. Compare the Total THC line — delta-9 THC plus THCA × 0.877 — rather than the raw THCA number.