The Process
Inside an ISO 17025 Lab
The gold standard for testing labs. Here's what it means + how it works.
Every Top G Farm batch is tested at Marin Analytics, LLC — an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab in Novato, California. Most consumers see the COA and don't know what makes one lab's results trustworthy and another's worthless. Here's the full breakdown.
What ISO/IEC 17025 Is
ISO/IEC 17025 is an international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. To get accreditation, a lab has to prove:
- ✅ Technical competence (qualified staff, validated methods)
- ✅ Quality management (documented procedures, audit trails)
- ✅ Equipment calibration (regular, traceable, documented)
- ✅ Reference materials (certified standards used)
- ✅ Proficiency testing (lab regularly compared against other accredited labs)
- ✅ Independent third-party audit (annual)
It's the difference between a lab "saying" their results are accurate and a lab being able to prove it.
Why Hemp Brands Cheap Out
Most hemp testing happens at non-accredited labs. Why? Cost. ISO 17025 testing runs $250–500 per batch. A non-accredited "quick test" runs $50–75.
For a brand selling cheap commodity flower, the math doesn't work. For brands that build long-term reputation, it's the only path.
What Gets Tested
Cannabinoid Profile
THCa, Delta-9 THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV — all measured to <0.01% precision. Confirms Farm Bill compliance.
Terpene Profile
30+ terpenes measured by gas chromatography. Tells you exactly what you're smelling and tasting.
Pesticides
50+ compounds, including Cat I dangerous compounds (myclobutanil, chlorpyrifos, aldicarb). Must be ND or below action limit.
Heavy Metals
Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury. Hemp absorbs from soil aggressively — this matters.
Microbials
Total yeast/mold, E. coli, Salmonella, total aerobic bacteria. Mandatory clean.
Mycotoxins
Aflatoxins B1/B2/G1/G2 + ochratoxin A. Mold-derived toxins that survive even when mold is removed.
The Sample Process
1. Random samples pulled from each batch (not cherry-picked)
2. Samples sent in tamper-evident bags
3. Lab runs full panel
4. Results published as a Certificate of Analysis
5. Top G Farm posts every COA publicly
How to Verify Lab Accreditation
Don't trust a brand's word. Look up the lab on the A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) database or ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) website. If the lab isn't listed there — their COAs aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
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