How to read a certificate of analysis without being a chemist
A certificate of analysis makes more sense in order: sample, batch, method, units and results. Learn to read one with a clearly fictional example.
Read the story ↗Inside the laboratory.
Understand analytical reports and their limits. Explore sourced Milnubes articles, practical reading questions and links to the original references.
11 stories
An analysis belongs to a batch: the most important clue on the packaging
A batch code connects packaging to its documentation. Learn to follow that clue and spot when an analysis may belong to another batch or sample.
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ND does not mean zero: detection limits explained with a ruler
ND, LOD and LOQ are not different ways of writing zero. Understand detection and quantification through simple examples for reading reports.
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Percentages, milligrams and millilitres: three units that are not interchangeable
Percentages, mg and ml describe different things. Compare amounts and concentrations through label examples without turning them into directions for use.
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Total THC: why two figures can tell different stories
Total THC and delta-9-THC are not always the same figure. Read the report’s definition, units and calculation basis before comparing results.
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What a laboratory tests for beyond cannabinoids
A CBD percentage does not sum up every check. Discover what panels for metals, pesticides, microbiology and other hemp tests can tell us.
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Heavy metals: why the sample’s origin matters too
Metals can enter at different points in the chain. Here is how to read their analyses and why investigating their origin takes more than a figure.
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Pesticides: a result depends on what was looked for
“Pesticide-free” needs an explanation. Look at the substance panel, limits and sample before interpreting a claim.
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ISO 17025: what an accredited laboratory brings
ISO 17025 provides a reference for technical competence, but scope matters. Learn to check which test is covered by accreditation.
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The travelling sample: traceability and chain of custody
Chain of custody records who held a sample and when. Discover how it connects with traceability, sampling and confidence in a result.
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Can CBD cause a positive drug test? What is being measured
CBD on the packaging does not predict the result of a THC test. Separating the molecule, product and analytical method clarifies a common question.
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