How to Read a Joy Organics Certificate of Analysis (COA)

At Joy Organics, transparency has been one of our core values since our founding in 2018.

Every product we sell is supported by a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, or COA. This independent laboratory report shows what was tested, who performed the testing, and the results for that particular batch.

A COA allows you to look beyond the product label and verify the cannabinoid potency and testing results for yourself.

What Is a Certificate of Analysis?

A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory report documenting the results of tests performed on a product or ingredient.

Joy Organics COA's include results for:

• Cannabinoid potency and profile
• Pesticides
• Heavy metals
• Residual solvents
• Mycotoxins
• Microbial contaminants

Because COAs are batch-specific, the report should correspond to the batch number printed on your product.

Why You Can Trust Our COAs

Joy Organics is headquartered in Colorado, where hemp products are subject to extensive testing requirements administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Our products are primarily tested by SC Labs, an independent ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory with facilities in Santa Cruz, California, and Denver, Colorado. We also use other independent laboratories, including CDPHE-accredited Gobi Labs, Botanacor, ACS Laboratory, and Kaycha Labs.

Independent testing adds an important level of verification because the laboratory is separate from the company that manufactures and sells the product.

How to Read a COA

Step 1: Verify the Batch Number

Every COA is associated with a specific production batch.

Locate the batch number printed on your product and compare it with the batch number listed on the COA. If the numbers match, you are reviewing the report associated with your product.

Step 2: Identify the Laboratory

Look for the name of the laboratory that performed the testing.

The report should also include information such as:

• The laboratory’s contact information
• The sample identification number
• The dates the sample was received and tested
• The date the report was issued
• The laboratory’s accreditation or certification information

Step 3: Understand Common Laboratory Terms

COAs contain several technical abbreviations:

ND: Not Detected
The compound was not detected above the laboratory’s stated detection limit.

LOD: Limit of Detection
The smallest amount the laboratory’s equipment can reliably detect.

LOQ: Limit of Quantitation
The smallest amount the laboratory can measure with acceptable accuracy.

Action Limit
The maximum permitted level established for a tested substance under the applicable regulatory requirements.

Understanding these terms makes the remaining sections of the report much easier to interpret.

Understanding the Potency Panel

The potency panel reports the cannabinoids detected in the product and the amounts measured.

CBD

The CBD result shows the amount of CBD measured in the tested sample.

We formulate all our products to meet or exceed what's listed on the label. 

Delta-9 THC

For Joy Organics THC-free products, the Delta-9 THC result should read ND, meaning it was not detected above the laboratory’s detection limit.

For full spectrum products, the COA reports the measured Delta-9 THC content, allowing you to review the amount present in the tested batch.

Minor Cannabinoids

The potency panel may also report naturally occurring cannabinoids such as:

• CBG
• CBC
• CBN
• CBDV

Their presence reflects the broader cannabinoid profile found in broad spectrum and full spectrum hemp extracts.

Understanding the Safety Panels

Every batch of Joy Organics products undergoes extensive third-party testing covering up to 133 quality and safety measurements.

Pesticides

Our testing screens for more than 100 individual pesticides.

This is especially important for hemp because cultivation practices and environmental exposure can affect the starting material used to create hemp extract.

Residual Solvents

Residual-solvent testing looks for substances that may be associated with extraction, processing, or manufacturing.

Even when organic-compliant processing methods are used, independent testing provides additional verification of the finished product.

Heavy Metals

Hemp absorbs minerals from the soil in which it is grown. If heavy metals are present in the environment, the plant may absorb them as well.

Every batch is tested for:

• Arsenic
• Cadmium
• Lead
• Mercury

Mycotoxins

Certain molds can produce compounds known as mycotoxins.

Testing includes:

• Aflatoxin B1
• Aflatoxin B2
• Aflatoxin G1
• Aflatoxin G2
• Ochratoxin A

Microbial Contaminants

Finished products are also tested for microbial contaminants such as:

• Salmonella
• E. coli
• Coliform bacteria
• Yeast
• Mold

The COA indicates whether each result meets the applicable laboratory or regulatory limit.

Five Things to Check on Every COA

When reviewing a Joy Organics COA, confirm that:

1. The batch number matches the number on your product.
2. The report was issued by an independent, accredited laboratory.
3. The measured CBD potency aligns with the product label.
4. Delta-9 THC reads ND for products labeled THC-free.
5. Each contaminant panel shows results within the applicable limits.

These five checks provide a clear overview of the report without requiring you to interpret every technical detail.

Transparency You Can Verify

At Joy Organics, we believe trust should never require blind faith.

A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis allows you to review:

• What was tested
• Who performed the testing
• The measured cannabinoid potency
• The contaminant-screening results
• Whether the tested sample met the applicable limits

That is what transparency should provide: information you can review for yourself.

You can find the Certificate of Analysis for every Joy Organics product on our Labs page at https://joyorganics.com/pages/labs.

Questions about a report? Our Customer Experience team is available at (833) 569-7223, support@joyorganics.com, or through live chat on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CBD Certificate of Analysis?

A CBD Certificate of Analysis is an independent laboratory report showing the cannabinoid potency and testing results for a particular product batch.

How do I know whether I have the correct COA?

Compare the batch number printed on your product with the batch number listed on the report.

What does ND mean on a COA?

ND means “Not Detected.” The compound was not detected above the laboratory’s stated detection limit.

What should a THC-free COA show?

For a product labeled THC-free, the Delta-9 THC result should read ND.

Why are CBD products tested for heavy metals?

Hemp can absorb minerals from the soil, including heavy metals if they are present. Laboratory testing measures whether arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury remain within applicable limits.

Does Joy Organics publish its lab reports?

Yes. Joy Organics publishes a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis for every product we sell.  See lab reports