Cannabis Testing Glossary

ISO/IEC 17025 is the internationally recognized standard for testing and calibration laboratory competence. Laboratories that achieve ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation have demonstrated to an independent accreditation body that their testing methods are validated, their staff are qualified, and their quality management systems meet rigorous requirements. For cannabis testing, accreditation provides regulators, producers, and consumers with confidence that laboratory results are accurate, consistent, and scientifically defensible. When selecting a cannabis testing laboratory, accreditation status or active pursuit of accreditation is an important indicator of a laboratory’s commitment to reliability and analytical quality.

A batch or lot is a defined quantity of cannabis product produced under the same conditions during the same production run. Regulatory frameworks typically require that each batch undergo independent laboratory testing before it can be sold to consumers. Batch identification numbers are used to link products to their corresponding Certificate of Analysis, enabling traceability from production through point of sale. If a batch fails testing or a safety issue is identified, the batch or lot number allows for targeted product removal without affecting inventory from other production runs. 

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds naturally produced by the cannabis plant that interact with receptors in the human body. Common cannabinoids tested in laboratory analysis include THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBD (cannabidiol), CBDA, CBG, CBN, and CBC. Different cannabinoids influence potency, therapeutic effects, and product classification. Cannabinoid profiling is a core component of regulatory compliance testing and provides producers, retailers, and consumers with detailed information about the chemical composition of a product.

CBC (cannabichromene) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, typically in smaller concentrations than THC or CBD. It does not produce intoxicating effects but contributes to the overall cannabinoid profile of a product and may play a role in what is often referred to as the “entourage effect” — the theory that cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds interact synergistically — producing effects that differ from those of any single compound in isolation. Laboratory cannabinoid profiling may include CBC as part of a comprehensive potency analysis, providing producers and consumers with a fuller picture of a product’s complete chemical composition.

CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants that does not produce intoxicating effects. Laboratories test CBD levels to verify product labeling accuracy and ensure compliance with regulatory definitions of hemp and cannabis products. CBD is commonly associated with products designed for wellness support, therapeutic use, and non-intoxicating cannabis consumption. Accurate CBD measurement is particularly important in the hemp market, where regulatory classification often depends on THC and CBD concentration thresholds. Both CBD and its acidic precursor CBDA are typically measured in a comprehensive cannabinoid potency panel.

CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) is the acidic precursor to CBD found in raw cannabis plants. When heated, CBDA converts into CBD through decarboxylation. Testing both CBDA and CBD allows laboratories to determine the Total CBD content of a product and ensures accurate potency reporting. This is analogous to the relationship between THCA and THC — measuring only active CBD without accounting for CBDA would underreport the total available CBD in products such as raw flower or minimally processed hemp. Including CBDA in cannabinoid panels gives producers and consumers a more complete picture of a product’s full cannabinoid composition.

CBG (cannabigerol) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid sometimes referred to as the “parent cannabinoid” because many other cannabinoids are biosynthetically derived from its precursor compounds during plant development. CBG is present in smaller concentrations in most cannabis plants, but some cultivars are bred specifically to produce higher levels of CBG. Like CBD, CBG is non-intoxicating and does not produce the psychoactive effects associated with THC. Laboratory testing measures CBG as part of a comprehensive cannabinoid profile. Interest in CBG-dominant cultivars has grown as producers seek to diversify their product offerings beyond traditional THC- and CBD-focused lines.

CBN (cannabinol) is a cannabinoid that forms as THC gradually degrades over time through exposure to heat, light, and oxygen. Elevated CBN levels may indicate aging cannabis material or storage conditions that have affected cannabinoid stability. Testing CBN can provide insight into product shelf life and cannabinoid degradation. For producers and retailers, CBN data can serve as a useful quality indicator — particularly for products with longer supply chains or extended shelf exposure — helping identify inventory that may have experienced potency loss due to improper storage conditions.

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is an official laboratory report that summarizes the results of analytical testing performed on a cannabis or hemp sample, including potency levels, contaminant screening results, and pass/fail determinations for regulatory limits. COAs provide transparency for manufacturers, regulators, and consumers by documenting the safety, potency, and quality of a product. They serve as the primary compliance document for regulated cannabis markets and are often required to accompany products at the point of sale or during regulatory inspection.

A Chain of Custody is the documented process used to track a sample from the moment it is collected through transportation, laboratory analysis, and final reporting, ensuring sample integrity throughout the testing process. This documentation records who handled the sample, when the sample changed possession, how the sample was stored or transported, and unique sample identification numbers. Maintaining a verified chain of custody ensures sample integrity and helps laboratories produce defensible analytical results that can be trusted by regulators and businesses. Gaps or inconsistencies in chain of custody documentation can call the validity of test results into question.

Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that occurs when cannabis is exposed to heat, converting acidic cannabinoid forms — such as THCA and CBDA — into their active counterparts, THC and CBD. This process is what makes cannabinoids bioavailable for inhalation or ingestion. In laboratory testing, decarboxylation is the basis for calculating Total THC and Total CBD values, as these calculations account for the THC and CBD that will become available when a product is consumed. Understanding decarboxylation is essential for interpreting potency results and ensuring that product labels accurately reflect the effective cannabinoid content a consumer will experience. 

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that may accumulate in cannabis plants if present in soil, water, or growing materials. Common heavy metals tested include lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Testing helps protect consumers from potential toxic exposure. Cannabis plants are known bioaccumulators, meaning they can absorb heavy metals from contaminated growing environments at higher concentrations than many other crops. For this reason, heavy metal testing is a standard requirement in regulated cannabis markets and producers should be attentive to the quality and sourcing of soil, water, and any growing inputs they use.

Microbial contaminants are microorganisms — including bacteria, yeast, and mold — that can colonize cannabis products and pose health risks to consumers, particularly those who are immunocompromised. Common microbial targets in cannabis testing include Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC), Total Aerobic Count (TAC), and specific pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. Microbial contamination can originate from soil, water, growing environments, harvesting equipment, or post-harvest handling and storage. Regulated cannabis markets require microbial testing to ensure that products meet safety thresholds before reaching consumers. 

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain species of mold. These toxins can remain present even after visible mold has been removed or is no longer actively growing, and may pose health risks particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems. Laboratory testing screens for common cannabis-related mycotoxins including aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. Because mycotoxins are not eliminated by removing visible mold, testing of the finished product is essential to verify safety. Testing helps ensure that products entering the market meet regulatory safety standards and protect consumer health.

Potency refers to the concentration of cannabinoids — primarily THC and CBD — present in a cannabis product, typically expressed as a percentage of the total product weight or as milligrams per unit. Laboratory potency testing measures both active cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) and their acidic precursors (such as THCA and CBDA) to provide a complete picture of a product’s cannabinoid content. Accurate potency results are required for regulatory compliance, product labeling, and consumer transparency. Potency data also supports producers in maintaining consistency across production batches. 

Residual solvents are chemical solvents used during cannabis extraction that may remain in small amounts in finished products. Testing ensures that any remaining solvent levels fall within safe regulatory limits. Common extraction solvents tested include butane, propane, and ethanol. Residual solvent testing is required for extracted cannabis products because trace solvent levels that exceed regulatory thresholds can pose inhalation or ingestion risks. Manufacturers using solvent-based extraction processes must validate that their post-processing steps effectively remove solvents to acceptable levels before products are submitted for testing.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and many other plants. They contribute to the scent, flavor, and overall character of a cannabis strain or product. Terpene analysis can help producers differentiate product varieties, understand flavor and aroma profiles, and improve product consistency. Terpene testing is not currently a mandatory compliance requirement in most regulatory frameworks, though this may change as regulations evolve. For producers, terpene profiling is an increasingly valued tool for product differentiation, quality control, and formulation development.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis, responsible for the intoxicating effects associated with marijuana consumption. Laboratory testing measures THC levels to determine product potency, regulatory compliance, and accurate consumer labeling. In many regulatory frameworks, THC content is evaluated using Total THC, which accounts for both THC and THCA present in the product. The distinction between THC and Total THC is important for labeling accuracy, as a product with high THCA levels will produce significantly more psychoactive effects than its raw THC measurement alone would suggest.

THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the non-intoxicating precursor to THC found in raw cannabis plants. When cannabis is heated through smoking, vaping, or cooking, THCA converts into THC through a process called decarboxylation. Because of this conversion, laboratory testing includes THCA when calculating Total THC, which determines regulatory compliance limits. Understanding the THCA content of a product is essential for accurate potency reporting — particularly for products like raw flower, where the majority of total cannabinoid content may be present as THCA rather than active THC at the time of testing.

Total THC is the calculated combined value of THC and THCA used to determine whether a cannabis or hemp product meets regulatory limits. Because THCA converts into THC when heated (through a process called decarboxylation), laboratories calculate Total THC using a standardized conversion factor that reflects the amount of THC that may be produced when the product is consumed. Regulators use Total THC to determine compliance with potency limits and labeling requirements. This value is distinct from the raw THC measurement alone and provides a more accurate representation of the effective psychoactive potential of a product across different consumption methods.

Water activity (aw) measures the amount of available moisture in a product that can support microbial growth. Unlike moisture content, it measures how easily microorganisms such as mold or bacteria can proliferate in the product environment. Maintaining proper water activity levels helps reduce mold growth risk, improve product shelf stability, support product safety and quality, and meet regulatory testing standards. Water activity testing is particularly important for dried cannabis flower and certain infused products, where moisture control is critical to preventing microbial contamination during storage and distribution.