How to Read CBD Lab Test Results
To get the most from the potential benefits of CBD products, you want to make sure that the products you’re using are the highest quality. An easy way to make sure you’re getting the best is to read a supplier’s CBD lab test results. These results should be made readily available for you on your preferred brand’s website to promote transparency. (our lab tests are available on each product page 🧪📊)
While they might look a little intimidating at first, CBD lab test results are actually pretty easy to read once you know what you’re looking at (and looking for!). Read on to learn how to read CBD lab test results so you can know exactly what you’re purchasing.
Why Read CBD Lab Test Results?
Why should I read CBD lab test results, you’re wondering? Even though CBD products became legal at the federal level as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (sometimes called the Farm Bill of 2018), it left individual state policies in place at the state level. As laws and regulations are changing rapidly, CBD lab test results can help you ensure you’re following all the current local laws in your area.
They may also come in handy if you’re planning on traveling or flying with CBD, as TSA officials may not immediately recognize legal CBD products from other potential substances. Printing a copy of the third-party CBD lab test results for your favorite CBD oil or CBD edibles could save you from a stressful situation becoming unnecessarily worse.
Why else should you read CBD lab test results? Honestly, because you deserve to know exactly what is in the CBD products you’re adding to your daily ritual! Third-party CBD lab test results promote transparency and show you that the results don’t have a conflict of interest by being handled solely in house. A CBD brand who sends their products out for independent CBD testing is showing faith in the quality of their products.
What You’ll See On CBD Lab Test Results
Now that you’ve got an idea on *why* you should check out CBD lab test results for all your favorite CBD products, what exactly is it you’re going to be looking at? At first glance, CBD lab test results can look super intimidating. What are all these words I don’t know and why do they matter, right?
To help you learn how to read CBD lab test results quickly and easily, we’re taking out all the mystery (jinkies!) and breaking it down into all the major categories you’ll find:
- Pass/Fail Status
- THC Content
- Cannabinoids test
- Pesticide Analysis
- Microbial Analysis
- Heavy Metals Analysis
- Potency and CBD Content
- Chemical Solvents
- Terpene profile
It looks like a ton, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Keep reading for a full breakdown of each item you’ll find on your product’s CBD lab test results and what it means.
Pass/Fail Status
Okay, so right off the bat we’re not actually looking at a category as much as a column you’ll find throughout CBD lab test results. The pass or fail status column lets you look quickly to make sure your favorite CBD product passed testing for the right ingredients at the right amounts. In lots of cases, it’s a quick indicator that your CBD product isn’t contaminated with anything that shouldn’t be in it and that the quality is there.
THC Content
The next item you may find on the top sheet of CBD lab test results is the THC content for that product. While CBD products are legal at the federal level, they have strict requirements concerning THC contents. To be a legal CBD product, it must contain no more than 0.3% THC.
Depending on whether you’re checking out broad spectrum CBD vs full spectrum CBD products, you may see results showing trace amounts of THC or notations like N/D or ND meaning None Detected.
Cannabinoids Test
Next up on how to read CBD lab test results you may come across cannabinoids test results. CBD is a cannabinoid, but is just one of many cannabinoids that can be extracted from the hemp plant.
Depending on what type of CBD product you’re looking at test results for, you will see different results. For full spectrum CBD products, you may find a wide range of cannabinoids including THC within legal limits listed. Broad spectrum CBD lab test results may have a range of cannabinoids, but will not have THC detected.
Pesticide Analysis
Part of ensuring you’ve got a high quality CBD product is making sure it passes the pesticide analysis test. Your CBD lab test results will show you how much, if any, of these chemicals are detected in your product results. If you see levels of pesticides shown, you should probably give that product your own “fail” result and move on to another choice!
Microbial Analysis
The microbial analysis section of CBD lab test results shows levels of potentially-harmful microbial organisms like salmonella, E. coli, yeasts, and molds. Be sure that any CBD product you choose passes these tests and shows below LOD (limit of detection) results.
Heavy Metals Analysis
Just like microbial organisms may pose a threat to your health, so could the presence of heavy metals in your CBD products. The heavy metals analysis page of CBD lab test results is meant to show you levels of known harmful heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead. Make sure your favorite CBD products show results of below LOQ (limit of quantification) to be safe!
Potency and CBD Content
When you’re buying CBD products you expect to know the amounts of CBD you’re getting. Not only do you deserve to know what you’re getting, but we want you to know you’re getting the best from us! Finding potency and CBD content in your CBD lab test results helps you know exactly how much CBD is in your product.
Products like CBD tinctures with higher CBD concentrations will contain more CBD per drop than those with lower concentrations. Makes sense, right? Every person feels the effects of CBD differently, so looking into CBD lab test results for your favorite products can help you figure out what works best for you.
Chemical Solvents
The best CBD products should have below LOQ results for chemical solvents. Products containing high levels of chemical solvents could actually pose a potential health risk. When you see the CBD lab test results show your CBD product passed inspection for chemical solvents, you can rest assured it’s safe.
Terpene Profile
Last up on our journey to demystify CBD lab test results is the terpene profile of CBD products. Terpenes are the compounds that make up the distinctive flavors and color of the final product. They may also provide potential benefits of their own. The CBD lab test results for each product should show which terpenes are present (and in what quantities).
We know that looking at long CBD lab test results can be a little scary at first. We hope this guide has taken some of the mystery out of looking at them and showed you how easy they can provide great information on products from your favorite CBD brand.
For full transparency, you can find hello amber CBD lab test results for each product right there on its page. If you have any questions, we’re always happy to help!
To learn more about CBD and CBD products, check out these guides: