How to read a hemp THC lab report (COA)
Quick answer
A certificate of analysis (COA) is an independent lab's test report for one batch of a product. To read a hemp THC drink's COA, check five things: that the product name and batch number match your can, that the lab is accredited (look for ISO/IEC 17025), that the THC per can is close to the label, that no unexpected cannabinoids show up, and that the safety tests (pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, solvents) came back clean. Below we walk through a real Little Rick COA line by line.
- Potency: look for mg per unit (per can), not just a percentage.
- "ND" means not detected, at or above the lab's detection limit.
- A potency-only COA tests cannabinoids; a full-panel COA adds safety testing.
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026. Every Little Rick batch's COA is on our lab results page.
What a COA is, and why it matters
A COA is the lab's record of what it found in a sample from one production batch. For a THC drink it answers two questions: is the dose on the can accurate, and is the drink free of things that shouldn't be there? It matters because labels in this category aren't always right: a 2024 review of 29 studies on cannabis beverages found cases of inaccurate cannabinoid labeling. A COA you can match to your own can is the best check you have.
A real example: Little Rick Mojito 10mg
Here's what the COA for one batch of our Mojito 10mg THC drink shows. You can open the full PDF from the 10mg section of our lab results page.
| Line on the COA | What it says | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Lab | New Bloom Labs, Chattanooga, TN. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Testing Laboratory, Cert# AT-2868 | An independent lab with an international accreditation for testing competence. |
| Product | Little Rick Mojito 10mg THC & 10mg CBD | Matches the product name on the can. |
| Batch | LRMLD910LOT02 | The batch (lot) code. Match it to the code printed on your can. |
| Dates | Received April 15, 2026; completed April 24, 2026 | When the lab tested it. A COA covers that batch only. |
| Total THC | 9.381 mg/unit | About 9.4mg of THC per 12oz can, 94% of the 10mg on the label. |
| Δ9-THC | 0.0026% | Delta-9 THC as a share of the drink's weight. Tiny, because a can is mostly water. |
| Total CBD | 9.192 mg/unit | About 9.2mg of CBD per can, against 10mg on the label. |
| Other cannabinoids | ND for delta-8 THC, THCa, THCp, THCV, HHC, CBG, CBN and others | No other cannabinoids found above the detection limit, including the semi-synthetic ones. |
| Safety panels | Residual solvents, microbials, mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals: complete, all ND | None of the tested contaminants were detected. |
| Unit | 1 unit = 12 fl oz; unit mass 360.372 g | The lab tested a whole can as one unit. |
Step by step: how to read any hemp THC COA
1. Match the product and batch
The product name and batch or lot number on the COA should match your can or package. A COA for a different batch, or a generic "sample" COA with no batch number, doesn't tell you about the product in your hand.
2. Check the lab
Look for the lab's name, address and accreditation. ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for testing laboratories. A certificate number lets you look the lab up in the accreditation body's public directory. A COA should also be signed or approved by someone at the lab, usually the lab director.
3. Read potency in milligrams per unit
Drinks are mostly water, so percentages look tiny. The useful number is milligrams per unit (per can or per serving). Compare it with the label. Small differences are normal because every measurement has an uncertainty; on our example, the lab states its measurement uncertainty on the report.
4. Understand "total THC"
Labs usually report total THC as delta-9 THC plus 87.7% of any THCA (THCA × 0.877 + Δ9-THC). That is the formula printed on our example COA. Federal hemp law is moving from a delta-9-only test to a total THC test, so this line matters more than it used to. See is hemp THC legal? for the rules.
5. Look for what shouldn't be there
Scan the cannabinoid list for anything not on the label. Delta-8 THC, HHC or THCp in a drink sold as delta-9 would be a red flag. "ND" means the lab didn't detect it; "LOD" (limit of detection) and "LOQ" (limit of quantitation) are the smallest amounts the method can find and measure.
6. Check the safety panels
A full-panel COA adds tests for residual solvents from extraction, microbes such as E. coli and Salmonella, mycotoxins, pesticides and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. A potency-only COA covers cannabinoids alone. Some of our older batches have potency-only certificates; our recent batches have full panels.
7. Check the date
Each COA relates only to the sample tested. A newer batch should have its own COA.
Red flags on a COA
- No batch number, or one that doesn't match the product.
- No lab name, address or accreditation.
- THC far above or below the label.
- Cannabinoids that aren't on the label.
- Potency only, with no safety testing, on a product you'll drink often.
- A COA you can't download in full.
Find your Little Rick COA
Go to our lab results page, pick your strength (5mg, 10mg, 25mg, 60mg, gummies or spirits) and search your batch. If you can't find the batch printed on your can, email hello@littlerick.com and we'll send it. Choosing a strength? Read our 5mg vs 10mg vs 25mg guide, or shop the 10mg THC drinks.
FAQ
What is a COA for THC drinks?
A certificate of analysis: an independent lab's test report for one batch, showing the cannabinoids in it and, on a full panel, the results of safety tests.
What does ND mean on a COA?
Not detected. The lab didn't find that compound at or above its limit of detection.
How close should the THC be to the label?
Close, but not exact, because every lab measurement has an uncertainty. Our Mojito 10mg example tested at 9.381mg per can, about 94% of the label.
Why is the THC percentage on a drink COA so low?
Because a 12oz drink weighs about 360 grams and is mostly water. 9.4mg of THC is about 0.0026% of the drink's weight. Milligrams per can is the number to read.
What's the difference between a potency COA and a full-panel COA?
A potency COA measures cannabinoids only. A full-panel COA also tests for solvents, microbes, mycotoxins, pesticides and heavy metals.
Where can I find Little Rick lab reports?
On our lab results page, organized by strength and batch.
Sources
- New Bloom Labs, certificate of analysis, Little Rick Mojito 10mg THC & 10mg CBD, sample 2604NBL0675.1783, batch LRMLD910LOT02, completed April 24, 2026: on our lab results page.
- Froude A.M. et al., "Potential Risks from Cannabis-Infused Beverages: A Critical Review," Cannabis 7(3):134–166, December 2024: PubMed 39781553.
- ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board), ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratory accreditation: anab.ansi.org. Accessed November 7, 2026.
- Public Law 119-37, Division B, Section 781 (total THC definition), November 12, 2025: govinfo.gov.