Certified Lab Results
How To Read CBD Lab Reports
Understanding how to read third-party lab results is simple when you break it down and you know what you’re looking for!
WHAT
Is A Third-Party Lab Report
A third-party CBD lab result also referred to as a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a report conducted by an accredited and licensed testing laboratory. The third-party CBD lab results verify that the product matches what is provided on the label of the CBD product. It gives unbiased test results for safety and transparency. Customers looking to purchase CBD products are more reassured that the results are not altered as the labs are not related to the company so they are able to make the best decision when shopping for CBD online.
When youre looking to purchase the best CBD products that provide the quality ingredients and effectiveness you are looking for then it’s essential you know how to read third-party lab results. Once you understand the lab results you can make the decision as to which CBD company you would prefer to buy from.
HOW
To Read A Third-Party Lab Report
Verifying the lab report is authentic is simple. You can give the lab a call and provide the “Certificate ID” that is shown on the COA, which then can be verified by the lab. The main purpose of a company labeling the product as third-party tested is to show the consistency and validity of what’s advertised on the label. If you are looking to purchase a CBD tincture with 500MG of CBD it would be vital to know the product does not contain higher levels of CBD or lower levels of CBD that you want.
Cannabinoid Profile Analysis
A cannabinoid profile analysis lab result shows the exact cannabinoids and how much of those cannabinoids are found in the product. The cannabinoids that are typically found and analyzed include CBD or THC is THCV, CBG, CBC, CBN, THCA, CBDA, & CBGA.
- Full Spectrum Extract: This lab result should contain THC, but less than the legal limit of 0.3%
- Broad Spectrum Extract: this lab result will show Non-Detectable (ND) levels of THC.
- Isolate: This lab result will have above 99% levels of CBD purity.
When you are analyzing a cannabinoid profile analysis there are a few columns and areas you should familiarize yourself with. The ID or Acidic Compound shows the cannabinoids that were tested. The Weight % or Neutral Compound mg/unit lists the percentage of the cannabinoid in the extracted oil. Keep in mind that when raw oil is tested it will not be 99% pure of cannabinoids due to the fatty acids and lipids in the rest of the oil. Concentration or Conversion Ratio is the exact concentration that is in the total CBD oil or product. The conversion ratio indicates the amount of neutral cannabinoid compared directly to its acidic counterpart. If you see ND or NR this means Non-Detectable or None-Reported. ND means the compound exists at or below the limit of detection and NR means the compound exists at or below the limit of quantitation but above the limit of detection.
Terpene Profile Analysis
CBD terpenes have been found to provide a therapeutic effect known as the “entourage effect.” Various studies have concluded that the combination of flavonoids and terpenes with CBD are shown to have a more effective result. Terpenes are compounds found in plants that are produced to repel pests and attract pollinators. Their main purpose is to provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. While terpenes are the natural compound found in flowers, terpenoids are terpenes that have been chemically modified. This process includes curing and drying the flower leads to the formation of terpenoids. When you see a CBD oil that is Broad-Spectrum or Full-Spectrum it contains these compounds known as terpenoids.
A few terms you’ll want to be familiar with when taking a look at the analysis include PPM which stands for Parts Per Million and shows the concentration. When the particle size is very small the metric PPM will show the value. Once again, when you see ND or NR this stands for Non-Detectable or Not Reported which means no concentration of the terpene was found.
Analyzing a terpene profile lab result is simple! It doesn’t necessarily matter which lab tests the terpene profile. You’ll find the terpene on the left side and the exact amount that was found in the CBD product on the right side.
Heavy Metal Lab Test Analysis
A heavy metal test lab report is important to consumers looking to purchase safe CBD products. The lab result shows toxic metals that are found such as Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, and Cadmium. Heavy metals are used for industrial applications such as pesticides, alloys, dyes, batteries, etc. As a result of this exposure to heavy metals, knowing that the CBD product does not contain these heavy metals helps consumers trust the CBD brand they choose.
In a heavy metal lab report you’ll find information pertaining to the concentration and metal being tested. Metal shows the metal that it was tested for. Concentration shows the concentration or potency of the heavy metal that was tested. Status is the most important section to take a look at. Status provides the amount of concentration that was found and whether or not it is safe to be ingested. Pass means that the product is safe and if you see Fail this indicates that you should not choose that product to buy.
Pesticide Lab Test Analysis
Similarly to the heavy metal test, a pesticide lab test shows whether the product contains any trace of pesticides.
On the left side of the lab report you’ll see the pesticides that were tested and on the right side you’ll find the result of the test. Units show the unit value it was tested for and PPB stands for “Parts Per Billion.” Limits is the maximum value that is found in the lab test for it to be considered passing. If the product was above the value then the test will show a “No Pass.” Status or PPB will show “Pass”, “No Pass’, or in some cases ND for Not-Detected.
WHY
Third-party lab results reveal complete transparency of a product. If a CBD company can’t back up their claims with lab results then you’re better off skipping that purchase and going with a trusted brand of CBD. Certificate of Analysis (COA), Cannabinoid Profile Analysis, Heavy Metal, and Pesticide Tests all serve a common purpose which is to reassure the consumer that what they are purchasing is exactly what is advertised on the product.
In order for CBD to meet the consumer standards, these products should contain the quality ingredients and safety measures to ensure the product is ingestible and providing the desired results. Whether you are looking for CBD that contains no THC or CBD that contains higher levels of THC these lab results will validate your purchase.