How to Read a Delta 8 Product’s Lab Report: What Should You Be Looking For?

Delta 8 THC, or Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol, is a hemp-derived cannabinoid that has truly taken the world by storm. Its mellowing, clear-minded high offers a satisfying and federally legal alternative to that of delta 9 THC, and it’s clear that hemp lovers just can’t get enough of its effects. A naturally occurring hemp cannabinoid, delta 8 was discovered way back in the 1960s, and has only recently made its way onto the market, quickly becoming the second most sought-after hemp derivative after cannabidiol (CBD).
Given its massive popularity, it’s not too surprising that delta 8 THC seems to be everywhere these days. Still, that doesn’t mean that all of it is made with the same quality standards. Some delta 8 products are heavily diluted, some are lacking in chemical stability, and some are just fake. Fortunately, you can sort through the “bad” delta 8 products on the marketplace by looking at third-party lab reports.
The Importance of Third-Party Testing
Lab-testing, performed by a third party, is a critical component of maintaining a hemp manufacturing business. The process is simple. A company that makes delta 8 THC sends each batch of their extract to a third-party laboratory that is licensed by the state to analyze hemp. Here, they all look for the same information pertaining to the purity levels of the extract, its cannabinoid profile and the presence of contaminants and other unwanted materials. Further, they check that the product is compliant with federal law, meaning that it contains a maximum of 0.3% delta 9 THC.
Lab-testing through a third party is therefore the only way to know from an objective source that a particular delta 8 product is legitimate, and thus, has the quality standards that you deserve. It also tells you if what you’re getting is pure delta 8 THC, or delta 8 combined with other hemp compounds that may or may not be disclosed by the company.
How to Find the Third-Party Lab Report
All manufacturers of hemp products should make third-party lab reports easy to access through their website, and there should be an individual report for each product that they offer. Usually, you’ll find them in one of two places. One is within each product description, and the other is on a separate page that simply puts all of the lab reports together so you can look up each product. If you can’t find them, contact the company. If they will not share their reports, the company should be avoided.
Making Sure the Lab Report is Authentic
The first thing you need to check when looking at a lab report is its authenticity. Because, believe it or not, there are sketchy brands out there that will doctor a lab report, or steal a lab report from another company and claim it as their own.
All lab reports must contain the name of the laboratory, and a reference number. Look up the name of the lab, to know that the lab really exists. If you want to, you can contact the laboratory and give them the reference number to match it to the product.
What You Should Be Looking for in a Lab Report
A delta 8 THC lab report is usually going to be made up of two documents:
- Document #1: The largest one, which tends to be several pages. This larger document goes into the purity levels of the product and aspects that relate to its safety, broken down into individual sections that are easy to read. Usually, this document will give you the complete breakdown of chemical compounds in the product so you can see how much pure delta 8 THC is in the extract. Of course, you want the product to contain as high of a percentage of delta 8 as possible, since that’s what was advertised. You’ll also want to look through the rest of the information carefully. Look to see if the delta 8 sample contains any contaminants, toxins, impurities, solvents or microbes. All of these things can affect both the safety and purity of the product.
- Document #2: The shorter document will consist of the chemical compound breakdown of the sample. Again, you want there to be as much delta 8 in the product as possible. You’ll see how many milligrams of delta-8 are in the product, and if any other cannabinoids have made their way into the extract as well.
Can the Product Type Make a Difference?
We do need to point out that the lab report’s compound breakdown can differ depending on the product type.
- Delta 8 Vapes (Cartridges and All-In-One Disposables): Vape oils found in cartridges and disposables are going to be composed of 100% pure hemp compounds, so you should find somewhere between about 85% and 95% delta 8 THC, with the remaining amount being terpenes. And, the total number of milligrams should be somewhere between 850-950mg, since this is the amount that you’ll find in a full-gram cartridge.
- Delta 8 Gummies: Gummies are not made up of 100% hemp, since there are a lot of ingredients in gummies. You’ll find a much lower percentage of delta 8 THC than you would in a vape, and you should also find the advertised number of milligrams on the lab sheet. Our gummies contain 50mg of delta 8, and that’s reflected in our lab reports.
- Delta 8 Tinctures: Our Delta 8 THC tincture contains a broad spectrum hemp extract with delta 8 THC distillate, along with additional cannabinoids and terpenes for maximum effectiveness. Each drop is bursting with the natural properties of the hemp plant, while allowing for a soothing psychoactive experience that many people describe as relaxing. Using MCT oil as its carrier oil, the terpenes give this product a plant taste, so be aware of that.
- Delta 8 Topicals: Our Delta 8 & CBD Pain Relief Gel says it all in the name, offering a synergistic combination of each cannabinoid’s well-documented anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties for a sense of ease.
- Flower: Delta 8 flower is a full spectrum product, and the lab report will show a much more diverse variety of chemical compounds than other product types because of this. This will also show you how much delta 8 distillate was added to the raw flower.
Third-Party Lab Reports: Unbiased Information About the Quality of a Delta 8 Product
Bottom line: Third-party lab-testing is an essential part of operating a delta-8 company. A company failing to have delta-8 thoroughly tested is sketchy, since the process is considered standard throughout the industry. Today, few consumers are going to be willing to buy an untested delta-8 product, since it likely means that the product is fake, or so low in quality that it should be completely avoided.
Luckily, here at ELYXR, you can access our third-party lab reports easily via our website. This gives you the opportunity to learn a lot more about the delta 8 THC that we work with, so that way, you know that it has the quality, purity, and ideal potency levels you deserve, while of course, being fully federally compliant. Essentially, you can feel confident that when you buy our delta products, you knowing you’re getting only the most amazing hemp available to meet your everyday needs and goals.