What is COA (Certificate of Analysis)?

A COA, or certificate of analysis, is a lab-issued document reporting a cannabis product’s cannabinoid potency and safety test results.

A certificate of analysis comes from an independent testing laboratory and lists cannabinoid and often terpene content along with screenings for contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbes. Many legal products carry a QR code linking to their COA so consumers can verify what they are buying. Checking a COA is a key way to confirm potency claims and product safety.