How to Read a Short and Long Form THCA Lab Report

With tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) being easier to find than ever it seems, quality levels can vary from brand to brand. Hence, why those lab reports are everything when it comes to choosing the right THCA product.

Third-party lab reports are typically broken up into 2 documents: the short-form lab report, and the long-form one. But, if you don’t know what to look for, both documents are going to be basically useless. Let’s take a look at what these lab reports mean, and what to be on the lookout for, to make sure you’re getting only the highest-quality, safest product possible.

Why Do Third-Party Lab Reports Matter So Much Anyways?

Third-party lab reports are a necessary factor if you’re a company that sells hemp products. Here’s how it works: with each batch of a THCA product that’s manufactured, a sample of it is shipped to a state-licensed laboratory, where it’s analyzed by a third-party team of experts for key factors like its legal compliance, its cannabinoid profile, its terpene profile, whether or not it’s been contaminated, and how potent the active cannabinoid is. Of course, in this case, it’s THCA. From that point, the resulting lab reports are returned to the company, and the company makes them accessible online in order for customers to access them to know what they’re getting, from a totally objective source.

Lots of third-party labs exist throughout the country that can test a company’s hemp products, but they are all following the same testing protocol according to industry standards. So, all of these labs are testing and documenting the same basic information. This is why all lab reports basically look the same regardless of which lab tested the product.

What Will You Find in a THCA Lab Report?

Now, a lab report is pretty straightforward and concise, but you still need to know what to look for once you access one. First, look up the name of the lab on the top left or right corner of the document, along with the reference number below, as this proves that the lab report is completely legitimate. This is important, as some companies do fake their lab reports, even though it’s rare.

After that, you can look at the individual sections which each give you critical information that determines whether or not a THCA product is worth buying. Let’s elaborate:

Legal Compliance: If you want to know whether or not a THCA product is legal, look at the section where it shows how much delta 9 THC is in the product. This is very important, because the law states (2018 Farm Bill) that hemp-infused products must contain a maximum of 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight to be sold legally. So, if the amount of delta 9 THC is more than that, the product isn’t compliant with the law, and that’s a big red flag.

Cannabinoid/Terpene Profiles: Many products contain other hemp compounds besides THCA. Flower, vape oils, and concentrates are full-spectrum, so they’ll contain a large variety of cannabinoids and terpenes. THCA should be high up on the list of cannabinoids, as the product should mainly contain that cannabinoid if it’s advertised as such. And, check the terpene profile to make sure that the dominant terpenes match the dominant terpenes associated with the strain that’s advertised.

Potency: You will also see a percentage of how much THCA is in the product, or the milligram amount will be indicated. This should match up with what’s advertised on the product’s label, and it’s important because it tells you the potency of the THCA.

Safety: Yes, look carefully at the safety panels. They will tell you if the formula has been found to contain harmful microbes/contaminants, pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, or any other impurities that negatively impact the quality and safety of the product. Keep in mind that residual solvents that show up in a lab report indicate that the extraction method used was done poorly, as solvents are supposed to be fully removed from the final product.

What is in a Short-Form Lab Report?

Most lab reports exist as 2 documents: the single-page “short-form” one covers the more generic information like the THCA concentration, delta 9 concentration, and cannabinoid/terpene profile that’s in the formula. This is going to give you the full picture of what hemp compounds you’re getting in the product, and how much of them you’re getting.

What is in a Long-Form Lab Report?

The longer lab report is several pages long, as you may have guessed by what it’s called. This focuses more on the actual safety of the product, and explains how the product was handled and stored, which is also very important as that can indicate aspects of safety as well as effectiveness – for instance, products exposed to too much heat can become ineffective. You’ll find out if there are any impurities or toxins in the product, like mycotoxins, pesticides, residual solvents, etc.

Does the THCA Product Type Make a Difference?

Basically, lab reports for THCA flower, vapes, and dabs should look basically the same, because all of these are full-spectrum products that contain no additional ingredients that would be accounted for. The only difference is that THCA flower is bred to yield high THCA levels, while vapes and dabs typically have THCA distillate added after the fact. So, you won’t find a section analyzing the THCA distillate in a flower product’s lab report, if that is something a company provides otherwise.

Having Access to Lab Reports on All THCA Products is Crucial!

THCA lab reports aren’t a luxury – they’re required, and they give customers assurance that they’re getting the best product possible. At The Calm Leaf, you can read authentic lab reports for every THCA product we carry, whether it be dabs, vapes, or flower. Look through our product pages and you’ll be able to find lab reports that give you all the info you need to feel totally confident about your purchase.