How to Read a Cannabis Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A Certificate of Analysis is the most important quality indicator for any cannabis product. This guide teaches you how to read one, what to look for, and what red flags to watch for.
We include a Certificate of Analysis (COA) with every batch of The Macro Bar. A COA is a third-party lab report that verifies exactly what is in the product. Here is a quick guide to reading one so you always know what you are getting.
What is a COA?
A COA is a document produced by an independent, accredited laboratory that tests a cannabis product for its cannabinoid content, contaminants, and other quality indicators. The lab is paid by the brand but operates independently — its reputation depends on accuracy.
Cannabinoid potency
This section tells you exactly how much of each cannabinoid is in the product. For a product like The Macro Bar, you should see Delta-9 THC listed at approximately 100mg per package. The COA should also confirm that the THC concentration by weight is under 0.3% for Farm Bill compliance.
Look for both the "per unit" and "per package" numbers. They should match the product label. If the COA says 85mg total THC but the label says 100mg, something is off.
Contaminant testing
Quality COAs test for pesticides (there should be none detected or all below action limits), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury — all should be below safety thresholds), residual solvents (chemicals from the extraction process — should be absent or minimal), and microbial contaminants (mold, yeast, E. coli, salmonella — all should pass).
What to look for in a great COA
The best COAs are recent (within the last 12 months), match the batch number on your product, show "Pass" for all contaminant categories, and come from an accredited lab (look for ISO 17025 certification). When a brand makes their COAs easy to find, it is a great sign.
How we handle testing
Every batch of The Macro Bar is tested by an independent ISO-accredited lab for full cannabinoid potency, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contamination. Our COAs are available on our website and match the batch number printed on your package. Transparency is core to how we do things.
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