According to research, CBD is effective against various inflammation, acne, skin fungal infections, and as an analgesic. It is mainly extracted from hemp, a plant belonging to the plant species cannabis, and was cleared by the Federal agency to be used to produce CBD. It, however, was allowed with some limits as some forms of hemp can accumulate high levels of THC tetrahydrocannabinol, which is still classified as illegal. All hemp to be used for CBD production is to have less than 0.3% of THC by volume. Otherwise, you should destroy the plant.
What is a Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
A certificate of analysis is a report from an accredited laboratory outlining the chemical analysis of a substance, in this case, a CBD product. Each batch of CBD products is typically tested individually, and a COA is generated for each run. A third-party lab performs the majority of CBD certificates of analysis. Many government-accredited laboratories provide CBD testing services, making it simple for manufacturers to provide consumers with an unbiased CBD analysis. Furthermore, many states require cannabis and CBD product labels to include a custom QR code that links the product to the COA. When reading product labels, it is always important to check with your local state regulations to ensure they are compliant with the law. It is critical to understand what the data in each section of the COA means. Although there may be minor differences in how the lab results are reported, all lab reports follow a similar format. This article explains how to extract the most important information from a CBD certificate of analysis.
Types Of Cannabinoids Present
The hemp plant contains a wide range of cannabinoid compounds. There are over one hundred other types of cannabinoids in addition to CBD and THC, which are known and profiled. When purchasing full-spectrum CBD oil, the certificate of analysis should list all detectable cannabinoids, including CBD, CBDV, and CBG. This section will also include THC, the cannabinoid you might not want if your product isn’t labeled and legally sold as cannabis. It is required by law that for a cannabis plant to be listed as hemp, it must contain less than 0.3 percent THC by weight. As one scrolls down the list of compounds, you may notice the initials ND next to some of them. That’s an abbreviation for “non-detect,” which means “there was so little of this compound present that the equipment couldn’t pick it up.” A good Certificate of Analysis should also list the various methods used to detect and profile each of the cannabinoids presented.
Analysis Of The Heavy Metals Present
Ingesting heavy metals in quantities that exceed safe levels can make you sick and cause you to react negatively to the product. Many manufacturers test for these as part of their CBD certificate of analysis to avoid legal action and gain their customer’s trust and confidence. There are two critical aspects to keep an eye out for in this section. The first is the concentration level of the heavy metal in the list that has been tested. This figure indicates how much of each metal was discovered during testing. The second is the Ingestion column, located under the Use Limits heading. It is the maximum amount that the government considers safe for consumption. The concentration level tested should always be well below the ingestion use limit. In addition, this column is critical for individuals with various allergies. It can help prevent one from using a product that can cause an allergic reaction.
Analysis Of The Pesticides Used
During the cultivation process, hemp attracts a lot of insects, rodents, and birds, which damage the crop, reducing both its quality and quantity yielded. Farmers, therefore, resort to various pesticides and insecticides to keep them away. Some farmers use these chemicals intensively, resulting in some sticking around even after processing the CBD oil. CBD certificates of analysis frequently include pesticide test results. The results in this section resemble those in the heavy metals section. Pesticide testing is always done in parts per billion (ppb) to indicate how many parts of the pesticide are in a billion parts of the product. The name of the pesticide tested, the level at which it was detected, the acceptable level limits, and whether the results indicate a pass are all written across each row. For high-quality CBD, always purchase products from cultivators who follow sustainable and pesticide-free growing and harvesting practices.
Analysis Of The Terpenes Available
Cannabinoids, essential oils, and terpenes are all components of the cannabis plant. Terpenes are well-known for their distinct influence on aroma and flavor. The terpene profile analysis identifies the type of terpenes found in the test sample. It also displays the relative amount as a percentage of total weight. This analysis may give the user an idea of how their CBD product will smell or taste. Extensive research is being conducted into the development of various terpenes and how they may influence other physiological factors. There is currently very little peer-reviewed evidence to support these terpene claims, but it is an exciting field to watch.
CBD Concentration Levels
The concentration of each cannabinoid in the product is reported in the following column. More often than not, the concentration is expressed in milligrams per gram (mg/g). The concentration column, especially for CBD oils, makes it easy to double-check that one is getting what they have paid for. For example, if a product weighing 50 grams advertises 600mg of CBD, the concentration should be 12mg of CBD per gram.
Conclusion
The certificate of analysis is one sure way to ensure that a consumer is using a safe product and getting the correct amount of CBD per dosage. It is important to watch out for the following factors such as cannabinoid profiles, terpene profile, heavy metal analysis, pesticide, and herbicide analysis, the name of the laboratory, and the batch number on the CoA the product match. Finally, always buy products with links or QR codes to the certificate of analysis as it makes it easier to prove whether the certificate is from a reliable source or not.
References
Stella, A., Palmieri, B., Laurino, C., &Vadalà, M. (2019). A therapeutic effect of CBD-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars. La ClinicaTerapeutica, 170(2), e93-e99.
