COA (Certificate of Analysis)

A Certificate of Analysis is a formal document issued by a state-licensed, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited third-party laboratory certifying that a specific cannabis batch has been tested for potency, safety, and quality parameters. COAs are required in every regulated U.S. market before product may be released to retail. Required elements typically include lab identification and accreditation, client information, sample batch and lot numbers, METRC or BioTrack sample IDs, matrix (flower, concentrate, edible), dates of receipt and analysis, results validity period (e.g., 12 months in California), a photo of the sample in its final packaging (required in California), cannabinoid potency (including Total THC = THCA × 0.877 + Δ9-THC), full safety test results with pass/fail determinations, analytical methods used (HPLC-PDA, HS-GC/MS, ICP-MS, LC-MS/MS, qPCR), the lab director's signature, and a QR code or unique identifier for consumer verification. COAs are typically accessed via QR codes printed on retail packaging, linking consumers to the lab-hosted document. Labs cannot amend COAs post-issuance without regulator approval. → See also: Testing lab, Potency testing, Compliance