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What Does <LOQ Mean on a Cannabis COA?

August 5, 2026FindWeedNY

What Does <LOQ Mean on a Cannabis COA?

<LOQ means the compound was detected below the lab's Limit of Quantitation: present in an amount too small to measure reliably. It does not always mean zero. Every legal cannabis product in New York ships with a Certificate of Analysis (COA), and <LOQ is one of the most common and most misread entries on it.

Key Terms at a Glance

TermStands forWhat it means on a COA
LOQLimit of QuantitationThe smallest amount the lab can measure with confidence
<LOQBelow the LOQDetected (or possibly present) below that reliable-measurement floor
LODLimit of DetectionThe smallest amount the lab can detect at all
NDNot DetectedNothing found above the LOD
Action limitRegulatory thresholdThe maximum allowed for a contaminant to still pass

The ladder runs: ND < LOD < LOQ < quantified result. A compound can be detected (above LOD) but not quantifiable (below LOQ). That is exactly what <LOQ reports.

Why Labs Report <LOQ Instead of a Number

Analytical instruments get noisy near the bottom of their range. Below a certain concentration, a lab can say "something is there" but cannot put a trustworthy number on it. Reporting a shaky number would be worse than reporting none, so the result is written as <LOQ with the LOQ value itself usually printed nearby (for example, "<LOQ, LOQ = 0.05%").

Each lab validates its own LOQ per compound and per method, which is why the same product tested at two labs can show slightly different <LOQ entries.

Where You See <LOQ, and What It Means There

Cannabinoids

A COA might show CBD: <LOQ on a THC-dominant flower. That means there is effectively no meaningful CBD content. For minor cannabinoids (CBG, CBC, CBN), <LOQ is normal and expected: most strains produce them in trace amounts.

Terpenes

Terpene panels often list a dozen entries at <LOQ. Trace terpenes below quantitation can still contribute subtly to aroma in aggregate, but a terpene at <LOQ is not driving flavor. When comparing products, focus on the quantified terpenes and the total terpene percentage. Our product reviews transcribe both from each COA.

Pesticides, Heavy Metals, Solvents, and Microbials

Here <LOQ is what you want to see. Contaminant panels compare results against regulatory action limits, and <LOQ means any residue present is below what the lab can even quantify, typically far below the action limit. A quantified pesticide number that still "passes" deserves more attention than a page of <LOQ entries.

What <LOQ Does Not Mean

  • It does not mean the lab found nothing. That is ND. <LOQ can mean "found a trace."
  • It does not mean the product failed. Failures happen when a contaminant exceeds its action limit.
  • It does not mean the test was skipped. A skipped analyte would be absent from the panel, not reported as <LOQ.

Reading a Real NY COA

New York requires testing by licensed independent labs, and dispensaries must make COAs available. When we review a product, we publish the cannabinoid and terpene numbers from its COA and link the document itself: you can see examples throughout our review index and in the reviews dataset we publish as open data. If a product has no COA available, or the batch number on the package does not match the COA offered, that is a red flag worth raising with the dispensary. Our sister site CheckWeedNY tracks lab-testing red flags across the legal market.

FAQ

Does <LOQ mean the product is safe?

For contaminant panels, <LOQ is a good sign: any residue is below reliable measurement, well under action limits. Safety is judged against action limits, and <LOQ sits far below them.

Can a terpene at <LOQ still affect flavor?

Marginally at best. Aggregate trace terpenes can nudge aroma, but quantified terpenes drive the experience. Compare total terpene percentages instead.

Why do two labs show different LOQ values?

Each lab validates its own methods and instruments. LOQs vary by compound, method, and lab. Both results can be correct.

Is ND better than <LOQ?

For contaminants, ND is marginally "cleaner" on paper (nothing detected at all), but both are passing results far below action limits. In practice the distinction rarely matters to a consumer.

Sources

  1. New York Office of Cannabis Management, adult-use testing requirements: cannabis.ny.gov
  2. FindWeedNY review COA transcriptions: findweedny.com/reviews

Updated September 7, 2026