Why Lab Accreditation Is the Backbone of Hemp Compliance
When a COA references ISO 17025 accreditation, it's referencing a specific, meaningful standard, not just a marketing phrase. Understanding what this accreditation actually means helps buyers evaluate whether their supplier's testing documentation is genuinely trustworthy.
What ISO 17025 Actually Is
ISO/IEC 17025 is an international standard that specifies the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It's not specific to cannabis or hemp testing, it's a general laboratory quality standard used across industries, from pharmaceuticals to environmental testing to food safety.
A laboratory that holds ISO 17025 accreditation for a specific test method has demonstrated to an independent accrediting body that it has the technical competence, equipment, personnel training, and quality management systems necessary to produce accurate, reliable results for that specific test.
How Laboratories Actually Get Accredited
Applying to an accrediting body. Laboratories apply to recognized accreditation bodies, in the United States, organizations like A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) or ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) are common choices for hemp testing labs.
Documenting quality management systems. The lab must document its quality management system, covering everything from equipment calibration schedules to personnel training records to sample chain-of-custody procedures.
Method validation. For each specific test method (cannabinoid potency, pesticide screening, heavy metals, etc.), the lab must validate that the method produces accurate, precise, and reliable results within defined parameters.
On-site assessment. Accreditation bodies conduct on-site assessments, reviewing documentation, observing testing procedures, and interviewing personnel to confirm the lab's practices match its documented procedures.
Proficiency testing. Labs must participate in proficiency testing programs, where they analyze blind samples with known values and their results are compared against expected outcomes to confirm ongoing accuracy.
Ongoing surveillance. Accreditation isn't a one-time achievement. Accredited labs undergo periodic reassessment, typically annually or biannually, to maintain their accreditation status.
Why This Matters for Specific Test Methods, Not Just the Lab Overall
A critical detail many buyers miss: ISO 17025 accreditation is typically scope-specific, meaning a lab is accredited for particular test methods, not blanket-accredited for everything it does. A lab might hold accreditation for cannabinoid potency testing but not for pesticide screening, or vice versa.
When reviewing a COA, check whether the specific test performed (cannabinoid potency, pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, residual solvents) falls within the lab's actual accreditation scope, not just whether the lab holds accreditation generally.
Red Flags in Accreditation Claims
- A lab claiming ISO 17025 accreditation without being able to provide their scope of accreditation document
- A COA referencing accreditation for methods not listed in the lab's actual scope
- Accreditation body names that don't correspond to recognized accrediting organizations
- Expired accreditation status that hasn't been renewed
How to Verify a Lab's Accreditation
Accrediting bodies like A2LA and ANAB maintain public directories of accredited laboratories and their specific scopes. Buyers can independently verify a lab's accreditation status and scope rather than relying solely on the lab's own claims.
Low Gravity Hemp works exclusively with ISO 17025-accredited laboratories for all product testing, with documented scope coverage for every test method on our COAs. Contact us to see our lab accreditation documentation directly.
