A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the single most important document in the kratom industry. It's the difference between knowing exactly what you're consuming and gambling on a label. If you've never read one before, this guide will teach you exactly what to look for — and what red flags to watch out for.

What Is a COA?

A Certificate of Analysis is a document produced by an independent third-party laboratory that tests a product sample and reports its findings. For kratom and 7-OH products, a COA typically covers three categories: alkaloid content, contaminant screening, and identity verification.

The key word here is independent. The lab performing the test should have no financial relationship with the brand selling the product. Look for labs with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — the international standard for testing laboratory competence.

Section 1: Alkaloid Content

This is the most important section for kratom consumers. It tells you exactly how much of each alkaloid is in the product. Key things to check:

  • Mitragynine content: The primary alkaloid. In natural leaf, this is typically 1-2% by weight. In extracts and tablets, it will be higher.
  • 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) content: The potent minor alkaloid. This should match what's on the product label. If the label says "14.4mg per tablet" and the COA shows 11mg, that's a problem.
  • Total alkaloid content: Some COAs list the full panel of 40+ kratom alkaloids. This gives you a complete picture of the product's chemistry.

Section 2: Contaminant Screening

A proper COA should screen for:

  • Heavy metals: Lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium. These should all be below USP limits. Any detectable amount above threshold is a hard pass.
  • Microbial testing: Salmonella, E. coli, total yeast and mold counts. In 2018, a Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated kratom sickened 132 people across 38 states. This testing is non-negotiable.
  • Pesticides and residual solvents: Especially important for extract products where concentration processes can also concentrate contaminants.

Section 3: Identity Verification

This confirms that the sample is actually Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) and not an adulterant or substitute. Some labs use HPLC fingerprinting or mass spectrometry to verify plant identity.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • "In-house testing only" — If a brand only shows internal test results with no third-party lab name, accreditation number, or analyst signature, it's not a real COA.
  • No lot/batch number — Every COA should reference a specific batch. If there's no lot number, you can't verify which production run was tested.
  • Expired dates — COAs should correspond to the batch you're buying, not one from six months ago.
  • Missing lab accreditation — Look for the ISO/IEC 17025 logo or accreditation number. Without it, the lab's competence is unverified.
  • Numbers that don't match the label — If the COA shows 9mg of 7-OH but the label claims 15mg, someone is lying.

How We Handle COAs at Favor'd Alkz

Every batch we sell has its COA published on our Lab Results page before a single unit ships. Each product page also displays its specific COA with lot number. We use ISO/IEC 17025-accredited independent laboratories and we never alter or redact results.

We believe that if a brand won't publish their lab results prominently, they either don't have them or don't like what they show. Either way, that's not a brand worth trusting with your health.

What to Do With This Information

Next time you're considering a kratom or 7-OH product:

  1. Find the COA on the brand's website. If it's not there, move on.
  2. Check that the lab is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.
  3. Verify the alkaloid content matches the label claims.
  4. Confirm contaminant screening was performed and passed.
  5. Match the lot number on the COA to the lot number on your product.

An informed consumer is a protected consumer. The five minutes you spend reading a COA could be the most important five minutes of your purchase decision.