How to Read CBD Oil Third-Party Lab Reports?
How to read CBD oil third-party lab reports? What are CBD oil third party lab reports in the first place? Today, we cover everything you need to know about buying top-quality CBD goods online without getting deceived.
If you don’t know how to read CBD oil third-party lab reports, worry not – we’ve got you covered. As a company that contributes to the cannabis community, we feel obliged to emphasise the importance of lab testing in manufacturing CBD goods.
Given the above, let’s answer the first question, namely:
Why Is Third Party Lab Testing So Important?
Before you learn how to read CBD oil third-party lab reports, let’s focus on the essence of lab testing. Lab reports are generated by independent laboratories to check the overall quality of a given CBD product. Independent labs are more trustworthy, as they are fully responsible for the results.
As the popularity of CBD oil keeps gaining pace across the world, quality controls are scant, to say the least. This, in turn, makes finding a reputable manufacturer a hard nut to crack these days. The market is flooded with a range of low-quality, unlabeled CBD products. Some of them contain no CBD at all, while others come with harmful synthetics to cut down on the manufacturing expenses.
So, when buying CBD oil, you need to take extra caution.
CBD oil third party lab reports will tell you everything about the content of the product. Moreover, they also provide customers with the information of CBD concentration. A lab test result should also show the information about the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
To cut the long tory short, lab reports reflect the content and the quality of your CBD oil – this is why they are paramount for your experience with Cannabidiol.
What to Look For in A CBD Lab Report
Now that you understand the importance of choosing a manufacturer who is open about its third-party lab reports, let’s go through the list of compounds that such a report carries so that you know what to look for in your lab sheet.
Potency
Simply put, potency reflects the exact amount of cannabinoids in a particular CBD product. Although cannabidiol is the main ingredient of all CBD-infused goods, it’s not the only active substance present in the hemp plant.
That being said, lab tests prove invaluable for determining the level of cannabinoids and the potency of the product. Many companies test their goods for the presence of CBD, CBDA, CBD, THC, THCA, CBG, and CBN.
CBD
It goes without saying that the level of CBD will be your main concern when reading a lab test report. The CBD content is fairly easy to read, and it is usually listed in mg/g or displayed in percents. Of course, the more CBD, the stronger the oil, but there are also other factors that can impact the efficacy and potency of your product, such as bioavailability or ingestion method.
More concentrated CBD oil is better for people who need a greater influx of phytocannabinoids and but cannot absorb that much liquid.
Other Cannabinoids
Like we said, CBD can be accompanied by a range of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Based on the above, we distinguish three types of CBD-infused products:
- Isolates, which are often referred to as pure CBD. As you may have guessed, a CBD isolate contains nothing but Cannabidiol. No terpenes, no other cannabinoids – 100% of CBD.
- Broad-spectrum extracts. They contain a range of cannabinoids, but with no traces of THC.
- Full-spectrum extracts. They come with a wide range of cannabinoids, including THC, and a mix of terpenes. THC, however, comes in trace amounts – full spectrum hemp extracts carry less than 0.3% of THC.
Other cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBC, or CBN are found in CBD oil in smaller concentrations, but they still create a synergy with Cannabidiol and terpenes, which is known as the entourage effect. Often referred to as the whole-plant medicine, the entourage effect theory states that cannabinoids work together when they are in the presence of one another. Although science is scant on the entourage effect, hemp breeders and geneticists support the theory all the way.
Terpenes
Terpenes are chemical compounds that contribute to the aroma, flavor, and color of the plant. More interestingly, terpenes carry a range of health benefits, too. Companies often test their goods for terpenes to make sure their CBD oil meets the consistency standards.
You can find these aromatic oils in full-spectrum CBD extracts. Terpenes are usually measured as parts per million (PPM).
Some terpenes, such as myrcene and linalool, have sedative properties, which explains why some CBD extracts are more calming than others. When it comes to other known terpenes in cannabis, pinene, for instance, aids memory.
Unfortunately, not all laboratories run tests for the presence of terpenes, but it doesn’t mean that the product of your choice doesn’t contain these compounds. If you want to learn more details about the makeup of your CBD oil, contact the manufacturer directly and ask whether or not they incorporate terpenes into their extracts.
Microbes
Basically, it’s not advisable to have any microbes in your CBD oil, even though not all microbial organisms can cause harm to your health. If any ‘unwanted guests’ show up in the third-party report, you may want to consider changing your CBD supplier.
If you want to make sure your CBD oil is free of microbes, look for such positions as molds, salmonella, yeast, and E-coli. The result should indicate “None detected.”
Pesticides
Needless to say, a good-quality CBD product must be free of harmful pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or growth hormones that could give rise to an array of negative side effects.
If your lab test report shows any levels of the above substances, the product is a big no-no! On the other hand, when the report confirms that your CBD oil is pesticide-free, it means your manufacturer uses a legitimate source of hemp.
Always buy CBD oil that is 100% organic and free of pesticides.
Heavy Metals
Here’s a quick list of all heavy metals detectable by a third-party CBD oil lab test.
- Arsenic, with the acceptable limit of 1.5 PPM
- Cadmium, 25 PPM
- Mercury, 15 PPM
- Lead, 5 PPM
These heavy metals are known to be dangerous for human health, which makes it obvious why you would like to check for their presence in the lab report.
Toxic Solvents
As a conscious customer, you probably know that a good CBD product should be entirely solvent-free, so whenever you grab for a CBD oil lab report, look for a detailed analysis of residual solvents. They are most often used to extract CBD from hemp and turn it into the oil. However, high concentrations of chemical solvents can cause serious health issues.
Don’t know how to read CBD oil third-party lab reports for the presence of chemical solvents? Make sure the lab report confirms the lack of any forms of glycols, especially propylene glycol (PG) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). These solvents break down to formaldehyde over time, a substance that has comes with a high risk of causing cancer.
Your best bet will be to stay away from such ingredients.
A Final Word On How to Read CBD Oil Third-Party Lab Reports
To wrap it all up, knowing how to read CBD oil third-party lab reports is quintessential for separating good-quality products from rip-offs. As long as you have a full understanding of the compounds that you should be looking for in CBD oil, reading a lab report is simple like a walk in the park.
At CBD Sky, we test our CBD products for all of the above substances, and we always make sure that our clients are provided with detailed lab reports. This way, they know exactly what they’re about to buy befor they even place their hands on the product.
Our range of CBD goods includes tinctures, topicals, capsules, spray, and even pet treats, all of which are free of any contaminants and potentially harmful substances. We take no half measures when testing our CBD oil, but it pays off with the trust of hundreds of satisfied customers.
Now that you know how to read CBD oil third-party lab reports, go ahead and see if your CBD oil lives up to your standards.