STAR LABA certificate of analysis describes tested samples and listed methods. Match the report to the claim.
What a COA is
A certificate of analysis, or COA, records laboratory test results. Washington’s cannabis regulator explains that these reports can contain cannabinoid and contaminant information. Testing requirements depend on the jurisdiction and product category; a report from one market should not be treated as proof of compliance everywhere. [1]
Read identity before percentages
First check the sample or batch identifier, the laboratory name and the report date. If these do not match the material discussed, stop short of applying the results to it. A screenshot with the identifying fields cropped out is difficult to assess.
Next, identify the measured substance and unit. Avoid comparing a percentage with a value in another unit as if the numbers were directly equivalent. If a report distinguishes individual analytes from a calculated total, preserve that distinction in your notes.
Read the scope and the limits
- Which analytes were included in the panel?
- Which methods and reporting limits are identified?
- Does a pass statement specify the standard or limit used?
- Are any results missing, qualified or outside the laboratory’s stated scope?
“Not detected” should be read in relation to the method’s detection or reporting limit, not rewritten as an absolute claim that no molecules exist. Equally, an unlisted test should not be assumed to have passed.
Why measurement quality matters
NIST’s cannabis measurement programme includes reference materials, analytical methods and interlaboratory quality assurance. These tools address the reliability and comparability of measurements—issues that cannot be resolved by attractive report formatting alone. [2]
A careful conclusion
Summarise what the report actually establishes and state what remains unknown. A result is not a blanket guarantee about all future batches, all contaminants or health outcomes. The journal’s comparison articles use this same principle: the strength of the conclusion should match the scope of the evidence.
Sources & further reading
- Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board — Understanding test results
- NIST — Tools for cannabis laboratory quality assurance
Research findings and public-agency definitions are attributed above. Reading checklists are editorial guidance, not laboratory findings.