How to Read Lab Results

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a lab report from an laboratory that reports results for a submitted sample. A public COA is shown on a thc.delivery product page only when one has been staff-published for that listing; a public document is not available for every item.

When a COA is available, compare the product or strain name, batch or lot identifier, laboratory, and test date with the item you are considering. A report for a different batch does not establish the contents of your item. Browse flower product pages and look for the Certificate of Analysis section. If it is not shown, contact the store to ask whether current documentation is available.

1. 1

   Verify the basics

   Check the lab name, the product/batch name matches what you bought, and the test date is recent (ideally within the last year).

2. 2

   Find the potency table

   Look for the cannabinoid results — usually a table listing acidic cannabinoid precursors, Delta-9 THC, CBD, and totals, reported as percentages by weight (or mg/g).

3. 3

   Confirm compliance

   Read the relevant government guidance for the product and jurisdiction. No single COA result establishes that a product is lawful in every context.

4. 4

   Scan the safety panels

   Check which panels were actually run, their limits, and the laboratory notes. A report only documents the sample and tests listed; it is not a general safety guarantee.

Some COAs also show "Total THC" — a calculated estimate of potency after decarboxylation (acidic precursor × 0.877 + Delta-9). It's the most realistic estimate of cannabinoid content after heating, not a guarantee of how strong the flower will feel when smoked.