What is CBD Oil? A Complete Guide to CBD and Cannabidiol

COA stands for Certificate of Analysis. In Swedish, the term “analyscertifikat” is often used when the sample concerns a CBD raw material or product.

The laboratory reports the results from an identified sample: which cannabinoids have been measured and in what quantities, along with the analysis date, method, sample number, and reporting limits.

A COA only shows the parameters the laboratory has actually examined. A cannabinoid analysis is therefore not proof that the product has also been tested for heavy metals, microorganisms, or pesticide residues.

Start with the sample’s identity. Look for the sample name, product name, the laboratory’s sample number, and any batch code. Together, this information shows which material the laboratory actually received and analyzed.

Then compare the certificate’s details with the label and the product page. If the certificate specifies “CBD isolate” while the product page describes a broad-spectrum extract, the document does not match the product, and therefore says nothing about what you are buying.

Also check who submitted the sample. A laboratory analyzes the material provided, but the analysis does not confirm the entire production chain or that subsequent production batches have the same composition.

A batch number identifies a specific production run and allows the manufacturer to link raw material, production, and documentation to the same series of products.

The laboratory often creates its own sample number. This identifies the analysis task in the laboratory’s system but does not replace the manufacturer’s batch number.

For good traceability, the certificate and the product label should share a clear identifier. If the link is missing, it becomes harder to determine if the analysis applies to the goods in stock.

Is an Old COA Still Relevant?

An older certificate describes a previous raw material delivery or production run. It does not verify a new batch. The seller should therefore clearly state which certificate belongs to the current raw material or product.

The cannabinoid profile lists the substances the laboratory has searched for. Common analytes are CBD, CBDA, CBDV, CBG, CBGA, CBN, delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC, and THCA.

Read each line separately. The result may be shown as a numerical value, “not detected”, “under LOD”, or “under LOQ”. Then read the laboratory’s method notes to understand what the designations mean in that specific document.

The profile also reveals if the product designation is correct. A CBD isolate normally shows a very high CBD content and virtually no other cannabinoids. A broad-spectrum or full-spectrum extract, on the other hand, should show several cannabinoids in measurable quantities. If everything except CBD is below the reporting limit, the profile resembles an isolate, regardless of what the label says.

A 2024 study analyzed 202 commercial CBD products and reported discrepancies between product category, declared content, and measured composition. The laboratory result therefore carries more weight than the product name.

Read the study on labeling and laboratory content in commercial CBD products

Laboratories report cannabinoids in several different units. Read both the number and the unit before comparing two results.

Percentage by Weight

Weight percentage, often written as % w/w, describes how much of the sample’s weight consists of the substance. A result of 80% CBD in a distillate does not mean that a finished oil contains 80% CBD, as the distillate is diluted with a carrier oil.

Milligrams per Gram

Mg/g indicates the amount of substance per gram of sample. The unit is often used for solid raw materials, extracts, and concentrates.

Milligrams per Milliliter

Mg/ml describes the amount of substance per milliliter of liquid and is relevant for finished oil blends. It is not always possible to convert directly between weight percentage and mg/ml without information on the density of the mixture.

LOD means limit of detection. It describes the lowest level at which the laboratory can distinguish the substance’s signal from background noise.

LOQ means limit of quantification. It describes the lowest level at which the laboratory can specify a quantity with sufficient precision.

If a result is below LOD, the laboratory cannot detect the substance with the current method. If it is below LOQ, a signal may exist, but below the level where a reliable quantity can be specified.

Read Eurachem’s guide to analytical method validation

First, check which form of THC the laboratory has analyzed. A certificate may report delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC, THCA, and total THC on separate lines.

Then compare the result with the reporting limit. “Under LOQ” and “not detected” do not mean the same thing as a guaranteed zero content, and it is therefore better to reproduce the laboratory’s results exactly.

A raw material result should not be transferred to a finished product without a separate analysis or relevant manufacturing documentation.

For current regulatory information, see the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s information on cannabidiol, and our guide on CBD oil and Swedish legislation.

The analysis method determines which substances the laboratory can separate and measure. For cannabinoids, liquid chromatography methods such as HPLC or UPLC are most commonly used.

AOAC International has approved an LC-DAD method for the analysis of cannabinoids in cannabis plant material, concentrates, and oils. A validated method must demonstrate sufficient selectivity, precision, and accuracy for its area of use.

Laboratories may use different sample preparation, instruments, reference standards, and reporting limits. Results from two laboratories can therefore differ even when they analyze similar materials.

Read more about AOAC’s official cannabinoid method for hemp

This question determines how much the certificate can actually substantiate.

A raw material COA describes the material before blending or manufacturing. A final product certificate describes the sample taken from the finished product.

A raw material analysis can verify the purity and cannabinoid profile of the extract. However, it does not confirm that a finished bottle contains exactly 1,000, 2,500, or 5,000 mg of CBD, as that figure depends on how the raw material has been weighed and mixed.

To verify the content of the final product, the laboratory needs to analyze the pre-mixed oil. Alternatively, the manufacturer needs to be able to demonstrate a controlled manufacturing process with correct weighing-in and homogeneous mixing.

The difference is central because research has repeatedly shown discrepancies between the label and the measured content in commercial CBD products.

Read the systematic review on the labeling of cannabinoid products

A cannabinoid profile only describes cannabinoids. A broader quality program requires several separate analyses:

• heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury
• pesticide residues
• solvent residues
• microbiological parameters
• mycotoxins
• water content or water activity
• foreign substances and other contaminants

A study of commercial CBD products reported heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides in some analyzed samples. A cannabinoid result alone does not provide a complete picture of the product’s technical quality.

Review the document in the following order:

1. Identify the sample name, product name, and sample number.
2. Check the batch number or other traceable code.
3. Look for the analysis date and the laboratory’s name.
4. Determine if the sample is a raw material or a finished product.
5. Read which cannabinoids the laboratory has analyzed.
6. Check both the result and the unit of measurement.
7. Note the method’s LOD and LOQ.
8. Compare the THC forms and any total THC.
9. Check which analysis method the laboratory used.
10. See if the document also covers contaminants and purity parameters.
11. Compare the result with the product’s label and description.

Avoid conclusions that go further than the analysis. A CBD analysis certificate shows what the laboratory measured in the sample the document identifies, not every product using the same trade name.

Start by identifying the sample and determining if the certificate applies to the raw material or the final product. Then review the cannabinoid profile, units, analysis method, and reporting limits.

Under LOD and under LOQ do not mean absolute zero content. The product text should reproduce the laboratory’s actual results along with the reporting limit.

The cannabinoid profile also reveals if the product designation is correct. The certificate for our broad-spectrum raw material reports 79.83% CBD plus seven additional cannabinoids, which is the profile a broad-spectrum extract should have. A raw material certificate, however, does not verify the concentration of the pre-mixed oil.

Sources and Further Reading

• LabCore – Certificate of Analysis B2B-RCoA-225/1, CBD Distillate Broad Spectrum
• AOAC International – Official Method of Analysis for cannabinoids in hemp
• Eurachem – The Fitness for Purpose of Analytical Methods
• Gidal et al. – Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis
• Systematic review of labeling accuracy for cannabinoid products
• Bonn-Miller et al. – Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online
• Swedish Medical Products Agency – Cannabidiol, CBD

Last fact-checked: September 4, 2026