You probably consider several factors when shopping for a kratom or 7-hydroxymitragynine (7oh) product, such as potency, product type, flavor, and more. But do you look at the COA? COA stands for Certificate of Analysis, a document provided by the brand or manufacturer that proves a specific product has been lab tested, and shares the results of that test.
If your chosen product doesn’t have a COA or you can’t access their lab results… back away from the product! Seriously - if you are buying a quality, safe product from a reliable brand or retailer, there will always be a COA easily available to you.
But what is a COA, exactly? What does it measure? And how do you make sense of it? Let’s get into the nitty gritty.
What is a COA?
A COA is a document of test results for kratom or 7-hydroxy products. COAs are usually done through third party testing. Though third-party lab testing can be time consuming and expensive, it’s worth it for reputable brands to demonstrate product safety and consistency to their consumers.
One brand may present COAs that look a little different from another, so this guide will walk you how to read various types of COAs on your own and what to look for. Though they may look intimidating, don't worry! It's pretty easy to find the critical pieces of information when you know what to look for.
Where To Find a COA
COA location may vary according to brand. Here are three common places to look for a COA:
The Company’s Website: Look at the website navigation menu at either the top or bottom of the home page for links like “lab results.” Or click on a specific product—sometimes test results are accessible on the product page.
On the Product’s Packaging: If there is a QR code on your product, you can scan it and it will send you to the lab results for that specific product and batch. This is the best way to get the most updated lab results for your product.
The Gold Dragon Kratom Product Page: Click on the product you’re curious about. Under “The Basics” there’s a link that says “Yes, we have third party lab results!” Click that link and the COA will pop up.
If you can’t find the COA on your own, contact the brand or retailer, they should have the updated lab results or should be able to quickly provide them.
What Does a COA Test For?
A COA looks for and tests quite a few items in the product that are related to quality and safety. COAs provide benchmarks for safety and quality in the kratom and 7oh industries. Below is what each lab test should include in their testing:
- Identity: Confirms the identity of the product.
- Strength: Amount of active compounds per serving.
- Alkaloids: Tests that the alkaloids are within legally permissible limits. The two main alkaloids in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, but alkaloids may also include paynantheine, speciogynine, speciociliatine, mitraphylline, isorhynchophylline, or corynoxine. Alkaloids may be broken up into "high level" and "low level." A test will likely also show total alkaloids.
- Heavy Metals: Detects the presence of heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and nickel in the product. May include a pass/fail grade.
- Impurities: Labs test for contamination with impurities like salmonella, e. Coli, staphylococcus, yeast, mold, aerobic plate count, and bacteria. The COA will include details about the test method and include a pass/fail grade.
The Vocabulary of a COA
When looking at a COA, you might come across words or abbreviations you don't recognize. Here are some common terms you might encounter and what they mean:
W/W%: Stands for weight by weight percent, meaning the concentration of a component in a mixture is calculated by comparing its mass to the total mass of the mixture.
LOQ: Stands for Limit of Quantitation, which is the lowest concentration of a substance that can be measured accurately and reliably by an analytical method.
Specifications: The acceptance criteria for a given product.
PPB: Stands for parts per billion, a unit of measurement for low concentrations of a substance. Compares one part of a substance per one billion parts of the whole mixture.
ND: Stands for Not Detected.
Why It Matters
Just like you might check the nutrition facts on a food product, or what’s in your laundry detergent, you should check out what’s in the kratom and 7oh products you’re consuming.
Reading through product lab results is important for a number of reasons. In case you still need convincing, here’s a short list of why you should make time to skim through COAs:
- Ensure you’re getting a high-quality and effective product.
- Check if the potency suits your tolerance level.
- See what alkaloids are present in the product.
- Check for the absence of toxic materials in your product.
- Check for ingredients that you may have an allergy to.
- Make sure the product isn’t expired and the lab results are up to date.
It doesn’t take a ton of time to check through the important things, so let’s move on to how to read lab results!
How to Read a COA
Reading a COA doesn’t have to be hard and you don’t even have to know how to read the whole thing. Many COA’s contain multiple pages, but most of what you need to know will be on the first page. Here is an example of how to identify key parts of a COA:
*Remember - COAs may not look the same across all brands and products, so look for the things listed below.
- Up-To-Date Basic Information: First, make sure that you’re looking at a COA for the correct product, and check the date. Ideally, the COA will be from within the past year.
- Confirm Substance & Strength: On the first page, the COA should declare what the active compound is and in what concentration per serving.
- Alkaloids: See what alkaloids are present and in what amounts.
- Impurities: See any impurities that are present in the sample and at what amount. The test will tell you if the detected level of contaminant is within an acceptable range. Many COAs will also test for heavy metals.
What if I Can’t Find a COA?
If you can’t find the lab results at all and the brand/retailer can’t help you, you should find another brand and retailer to work with. For all of the products we carry, the COAs will be on the product page. If, for some reason, it’s out of date or you can’t find it, contact us and we will help you find the latest lab results!
