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How to Read a Kratom COA: Lab Report Line by Line
Quick Answer: A kratom COA (Certificate of Analysis) is a lab report for one specific batch. To read it, match the batch number to your package, check the test date and the lab’s ISO 17025 accreditation, read the alkaloid panel (mitragynine and 7-OH), then confirm the heavy metals, microbial and pesticide panels show “Pass” or “ND” (not detected).
Shopping now? Browse Noms Seltzers: Grapefruit (its lab report is posted on our Bedrock Botanicals COA page) or the full kratom collection.
What is a kratom COA?
A Certificate of Analysis is a document issued by a testing laboratory that lists what was measured in a sample from one production lot, the method used, and the result. It is not a marketing sheet and it is not a general “this brand is tested” badge. A COA only describes the batch whose lot number is printed on it. That is why the first thing to check is not the numbers but the match between the report and the package in your hand.
Utah, one of the states that regulates kratom through a registration program, spells out what a compliant kratom COA must contain. According to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, the report must carry the lot or batch number, which “must match the lot/batch number on the kratom product,” plus the date received, the date testing was completed, the method of analysis for each test, a photo of the tested product, and the names and addresses of the processor and the lab. It is a useful checklist for any kratom report, wherever you live.
How do you read a kratom COA, section by section?
Most kratom COAs follow the same layout. Work through it top to bottom:
| COA section | What to look for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Header / sample info | Product name, lot or batch number, sample photo | No lot number, or a lot number that does not match your package |
| Dates | Date received and date completed | No dates, or a report years older than the product |
| Lab details | Lab name, address, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation number | No lab name, or a lab you cannot look up |
| Alkaloid panel | Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), with units | Missing units (% vs mg/g vs mg per serving) |
| Heavy metals | Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury with result + limit | Results without a stated limit or Pass/Fail |
| Microbials | Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold, aerobic plate count | “Pending” or blank fields |
| Pesticides / mycotoxins | Panel results, usually “ND” | Panel listed but no results |
| Signature | Signed by the lab’s analyst or director | Unsigned or edited-looking PDF |
What does the alkaloid panel on a kratom COA mean?
The alkaloid panel is the part most shoppers look at first. It reports mitragynine (often shortened to MIT), the most abundant alkaloid in the kratom leaf, and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which appears in natural leaf only in trace amounts. Some labs also list speciogynine, paynantheine and speciociliatine.
Units matter. Powder is usually reported as a percentage of dry weight (for example “1.4% mitragynine”), while shots and seltzers are usually reported in mg per container. To convert a percentage to mg per gram, multiply by 10: 1.4% equals 14 mg per gram. Our explainer on what the MIT percentage in kratom means walks through more examples.
For 7-OH, Utah’s rule requires the alkaloid fraction to be under 0.4% 7-OH and requires that pseudoindoxyl “must not be present.” Federal attention is on concentrated and synthetic products, not natural leaf; the current status is tracked in our kratom law changes 2026 update. Bedrock carries leaf-based kratom only and no 7-OH products.
Leaf-based kratom powders from Third Eye, Monarch and Kratom Gorilla. Third-party lab tested. 21+ only.
What do the heavy metals, microbial and pesticide results mean?
These are pass/fail contaminant screens. Each line should show three things: the analyte, the result, and the limit the lab compared it to. A result shown as “ND” means the analyte was not detected at the lab’s limit of quantitation (LOQ), which should also be printed. A result below the stated limit with “Pass” is also normal.
- Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). Check which unit is used before comparing numbers between two reports.
- Microbials: Salmonella and E. coli are typically reported as “absent” or “not detected” in a set sample size; yeast, mold and total aerobic counts are reported in CFU/g against a limit.
- Pesticides and mycotoxins: long panels, so look for an overall Pass line and spot-check a few rows.
Utah requires all four contaminant categories on a registered kratom product’s COA, with numeric limits set in its kratom product testing rule. A report missing a whole panel is not necessarily a problem, but it tells you less.
How can you tell if a COA belongs to your product?
Three quick checks catch almost every mismatch:
- Lot number: the batch or lot code on the COA should match the code printed on your bag, bottle or can.
- Dates: the test completion date should fall before the package date and should be recent. Utah requires testing within six months before registration.
- Lab lookup: search the lab name plus “ISO 17025.” Accreditation bodies publish their accredited labs, so a real lab is easy to find.
If anything does not match, ask the seller for the report for your lot. A store that tests should be able to send it.
How does Bedrock Botanicals share lab reports?
Bedrock posts lab reports by category on its COA page. Reports for Noms kratom seltzers (Grapefruit, Lemon Lime and Triple Berry Rush) are posted now, and powder and extract reports are being added. If the report you want is not listed yet, contact us with the product name and lot code and we will send what we have.
Other vendors handle this differently. Nootropics Depot, for example, publishes a support article that explains the layout of its own COAs. Whatever the store, the checks above work the same way.
COA vs label: what is the difference?
| Product label | COA | |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | The brand | A testing lab |
| Covers | Every unit of that product | One lot or batch |
| Alkaloid figure | Stated amount (e.g. Third Eye shots: 150mg per 15 mL) | Measured amount for that batch |
| Contaminant results | Not shown | Heavy metals, microbials, pesticides |
| Where to find it | On the package | Brand or store COA page, QR code, or on request |
Use both. The label tells you what the brand states; the COA tells you what the lab measured in a sample from that batch. Compare formats and label figures across our owned brands: Third Eye Green Maeng Da powder ($10.99), Monarch Red Bali ($4.99) and the Kratom Gorilla Howler 150mg shot ($15.99). More on each brand: Third Eye, the Kratom Gorilla lineup.
Related reading
- Where to buy kratom online: a buyer’s checklist
- How long kratom powder stays fresh once opened
- What are kratom seltzers?
- Kratom legality by state
FAQ
What does COA stand for in kratom?
COA stands for Certificate of Analysis: a lab report listing the alkaloid and contaminant test results for one specific batch of a kratom product.
What does “ND” mean on a kratom lab report?
ND means “not detected”: the lab did not find that analyte at or above its limit of quantitation (LOQ), which should be printed on the report.
How do I convert mitragynine percentage to mg per gram?
Multiply the percentage by 10. A powder reported at 1.5% mitragynine contains about 15 mg of mitragynine per gram, as measured in the tested sample.
Should a COA match my product’s batch number?
Yes. A COA describes only the lot it was issued for. If the lot number on the report does not match your package, ask the seller for the correct report.
What lab accreditation should a kratom COA show?
Look for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, the international standard for testing labs. Utah requires it for labs testing registered kratom products.
Where can I find Bedrock Botanicals lab reports?
On the Bedrock COA page, sorted by category. Noms seltzer reports are posted now and other categories are being added.
Noms kratom seltzers: leaf-based, lab report posted, 21+ only.
Published by Bedrock Botanicals. Source: Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Kratom Testing Requirements (accessed November 2026). Must be 21 or older to purchase. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kratom laws vary by state and city; verify your current local law before ordering.
