🔬 Education • Compliance
How to Read a Hemp COA
The complete buyer's guide to lab reports — and how to spot the red flags brands hope you'll miss.
Every legitimate hemp product comes with a Certificate of Analysis — a third-party lab report that confirms what's actually in the product. Most consumers have no idea how to read one.
What is a COA?
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a third-party lab's official report on a specific batch. Top G Farm publishes all batch COAs at labs.topgfarm.shop.
The Five Sections That Matter
1. Header & Sample Information
- Lab name and accreditation — ISO/IEC 17025 is the gold standard
- Date received and tested — ideally within last 6–12 months
- Batch / lot number — must match your packaging
- Sample matrix — confirms what was tested
2. Cannabinoid Profile
For Farm Bill compliance: Delta-9 THC must be at or below 0.3% by dry weight. You'll also see THCa, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV, and total cannabinoids.
3. Pesticide Screen
Each pesticide should show as "ND" (Not Detected) or below the lab's action limit (LOQ).
4. Heavy Metals Screen
Standard screen tests arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury. All four should be ND or below action limits.
5. Microbial Screen
Tests for total yeast and mold, E. coli, Salmonella, total aerobic bacteria.
Bonus: The Terpene Profile
The best COAs include terpene testing. A robust terpene profile signals careful cultivation and proper handling.
Quick Verification Checklist
- ✅ ISO-accredited lab listed
- ✅ Date tested within last 12 months
- ✅ Batch number matches packaging
- ✅ Delta-9 THC at or below 0.3%
- ✅ Pesticides ND or below limit
- ✅ Heavy metals ND or below limit
- ✅ Microbials ND or below limit
Why Top G Farm Tests Every Batch
We don't test "a batch." We test every batch. Every harvest, every extraction, every product gets its own COA before it ships.
Browse all current COAs: labs.topgfarm.shop →
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