Why Testing Transparency Matters
When you purchase a CBD product, you should be able to know more than what's printed on the label. You should be able to see the testing behind it.
Frankly, not every company provides the testing or the access to results we feel are vital to providing CBD products to customers and patients.
At Imbue Botanicals, transparency has been part of our approach from the beginning. We were one of the very first companies in the hemp industry to make our laboratory results available online—and we were among the first (if not the first) to put a QR code directly on our products so customers could quickly access the Certificate of Analysis (COA) for their product.
For us, testing isn't simply about checking a box. It's about giving customers the information they need to understand what they're buying. T Imbue , we’re proud to share with you some of the most extensive testing results in the industry.
So, what exactly should you look for when you scan a COA?
What Is a Certificate of Analysis?
A Certificate of Analysis is a laboratory report showing the results of testing performed on a specific batch of a product or ingredient.
A good COA can tell you much more than how much CBD is in a bottle. Depending on the product and testing performed, it can provide information about the cannabinoid profile, THC levels, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbial contaminants, terpenes and other quality measures.
That's why we believe customers should have access to these results—not simply a statement that a product has been "tested."
1. Does the COA Match Your Product?
Start with the batch or lot number.
Testing applies to the specific batch that was analyzed. When you scan a QR code or visit a company's testing page, look for a report that corresponds to the product you're holding.
This is one reason we made QR-code access to COAs part of the Imbue experience. Rather than making customers search for testing information, we wanted it to be accessible right from the product.
2. Look Beyond CBD
A COA can show the complete cannabinoid profile of a hemp extract—not just CBD.
Depending on the product, you may see CBD, CBG, CBC, CBDV, THC, and other naturally occurring cannabinoids listed individually.
At Imbue, we believe understanding the complete profile is important because hemp is more than a single cannabinoid.
3. Check the THC Results
THC is another important number to examine.
Hemp naturally contains trace amounts of THC, and the COA can show exactly what the laboratory detected in a particular batch. Looking at the actual test results gives you more information than simply relying on general statements about a product.
4. Ask What Else Was Tested
Potency testing is only part of the picture.
At Imbue Botanicals, our testing philosophy has extended well beyond simply measuring CBD. We have conducted extensive testing of our products and ingredients, including testing raw oil.
Why test the raw material? Because quality assurance shouldn't begin only after a product has been manufactured. Testing ingredients along the way provides additional information about what is going into the finished product.
Our comprehensive testing includes screening for things such as pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbial contaminants, and other potential impurities to ensure the product you receive isn’t just effective, but safe as well.
5. Look for Independent Laboratory Testing
It's worth knowing who performed the analysis. At Imbue, we always use independent laboratories on each and every batch.
Third-party laboratory testing provides an independent measurement of what's in a particular batch. A company's quality standards are important, but giving customers access to laboratory documentation allows them to see the results for themselves.
That's the principle behind making our COAs accessible: don't just take our word for it—look at the testing.
6. Check the Date and Batch Information
A COA isn't a generic certificate for every product a company makes. Testing should be connected to a particular sample or batch.
Look for the testing date, batch number, product or sample identification, and the laboratory information. These details help establish exactly what was tested and when.
7. Transparency Should Be Easy
We believe customers shouldn't have to email customer service, dig through a website, or take a company's word for it to find laboratory results.
That's why Imbue has made testing information readily accessible for years—and why we incorporated QR codes linking directly to COAs on our products.
The technology may be simple, but the philosophy behind it is important: customers deserve access to the information behind the products they purchase.
Testing Is More Than a Certificate
A COA is ultimately a snapshot of laboratory results. But comprehensive testing is about creating confidence throughout the process—from raw ingredients to finished products.
Long before testing transparency became something consumers expected from the hemp industry, Imbue Botanicals was making laboratory results accessible and putting that information directly into customers' hands.
We believe that's how it should be.
When you're choosing a CBD product, don't be afraid to ask questions. Look for the batch number. Review the cannabinoid profile. Check THC. Look at contaminant testing. Find out who performed the analysis.
And, whenever possible, see the results for yourself.
Because transparency isn't just something you say. It's something you show.
