How to Read a Certificate of Analysis Before You Buy 7-OH?

July 23, 2026

A certificate of analysis, or COA, is the lab report for one batch of a product. It shows who tested the sample, how they tested it and what they found. For kratom and mitragynine products it now matters for a second reason, because the batch COA holds the numbers that DEA's proposed threshold tests for 7-OH depend on.

This page walks through each part of a COA in order. It is a reference, not a product recommendation.

Why the COA matters after October 14, 2026

As of October 21, 2026, DEA's October 14, 2026 notice in the Federal Register proposes to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI) in Schedule I. The notice sets two threshold tests, and a product that meets either one is caught:

Concentration test: 7-OH and MGPI content, alone or combined, of more than 1 mg per gram in a solid or 1 mg per milliliter in a liquid.
Ratio test: the mass of mitragynine divided by the mass of 7-OH (or of 7-OH plus MGPI) is less than 100.

Under the same Federal Register notice, the temporary order can be published on or after November 13, 2026, and it is not in effect yet. Mitragynine and kratom leaf are not federally scheduled, and whether a given mitragynine product falls inside the thresholds depends on its tested 7-OH content and its mitragynine to 7-OH ratio, both read from the batch COA.

For what this means for 7Stax customers, see 7Stax's update on 7-OH and what you can do.

State law is separate

As of October 21, 2026, DEA's notice says the federal action does not preempt stricter state law, and it lists ten states that prohibit 7-OH: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Powers Health's August 14, 2026 report on state kratom emergency orders notes that Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina and Texas limit 7-OH as a share of total alkaloids, which is another figure only a full alkaloid panel can show. State rules change often, so check your own state's current law.

Step 1. Confirm who did the testing

The top of a COA names the laboratory. Look for a full name, a street address, contact details and an accreditation reference, usually ISO/IEC 17025 with a certificate number.

ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for testing laboratories. Accreditation bodies such as ANAB and A2LA keep searchable directories where you can confirm the number and the lab's scope. Our guide on why third-party testing matters more than brand claims explains why an independent lab carries more weight than the brand's own word.

Step 2. Match the batch number

A useful COA identifies the sample: brand, product name, format, batch or lot number, and the dates the sample was received and reported. The batch or lot number matters most.

Compare the batch number on the package with the one on the COA, character by character. If they differ, the report describes a different production run, and one certificate offered for every batch is not a batch COA.

Step 3. Read the potency panel

The potency panel, sometimes labeled alkaloid profile or assay, lists each alkaloid the lab measured and the amount found. Three lines matter for the federal tests:

Mitragynine: the main alkaloid in kratom leaf, and the top number in the ratio test.
7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH): present in leaf in small amounts; it counts toward the concentration test and is the bottom number in the ratio test.
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI): only some labs test for it; where it is reported, it is added to 7-OH for both tests.

Panels may also list speciogynine, paynantheine and speciociliatine, which do not enter the threshold arithmetic. Our explainer on what kratom alkaloids are covers each one.

If 7-OH is reported as ND (not detected) or below LOQ, ask the lab or the brand for the limit values rather than assuming a number.

Step 4. Get the units straight

Labs report potency in different units, while the threshold tests use mg per gram for solids and mg per milliliter for liquids. Convert before you compare.

Unit on the COA	What it means	How to get mg per gram
mg/g	Milligrams of the alkaloid in each gram of product	Already in the right unit
Percent (w/w)	Share of total product weight	Multiply by 10, so 1% is 10 mg per gram and 0.1% is 1 mg per gram
mg per unit (tablet or capsule)	Milligrams in one unit	Divide by the total weight of one unit in grams
mg/mL	Milligrams per milliliter of a liquid	No conversion; compare with the 1 mg per milliliter figure

The mg per unit row is where people slip: a tablet's weight includes binders and fillers, so you need the total tablet weight to get mg per gram.

Step 5. Apply the two threshold tests

Because the notice's threshold tests catch a product that meets either one, run both. Clearing one test is not enough.

Concentration test. Add 7-OH and MGPI (if reported) in mg per gram. More than 1 mg per gram for a solid, or more than 1 mg per milliliter for a liquid, is caught.
Ratio test. Divide mitragynine by 7-OH (or by 7-OH plus MGPI), using the same units for both. A result below 100 is caught.

Worked example (illustration only)

The figures below are invented round numbers chosen to show the arithmetic. They do not describe any 7Stax product or any real batch.

Made-up COA line	Example A	Example B
Weight of one unit	500 mg (0.5 g)	500 mg (0.5 g)
Mitragynine per unit	50 mg	20 mg
7-OH per unit	0.2 mg	0.3 mg
MGPI per unit	Not detected	Not detected
7-OH plus MGPI in mg per gram	0.2 divided by 0.5 = 0.4	0.3 divided by 0.5 = 0.6
Concentration test: more than 1 mg per gram?	No	No
Ratio: mitragynine divided by 7-OH	50 divided by 0.2 = 250	20 divided by 0.3 = about 67
Ratio test: below 100?	No	Yes
Caught by either test?	No	Yes, by the ratio test

Example B shows why both tests matter: its 7-OH concentration is under 1 mg per gram, but there is too little mitragynine relative to 7-OH. A COA lets you do this arithmetic, but it does not settle the legal question, which depends on the final order and on state law.

Step 6. Check the contaminant panels

The rest of the report screens for things that should not be there:

Heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, in parts per million or parts per billion.
Microbials: total aerobic count, yeast and mold, and organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Residual solvents: most relevant for extracts, which are made with solvents such as ethanol.

Each line should show the result, the unit, the limit and a pass or fail mark. Our comparison of kratom extract and plain leaf powder explains why the solvent panel matters more for concentrated products.

Step 7. Look for the method, limits and signature

A credible COA names the method behind each result (for example HPLC-UV or LC-MS/MS for alkaloids), states the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), and carries a signature and issue date. A screenshot with no report number or lab contact cannot be traced back to the lab.

What a COA does not tell you

A COA records the chemistry of one batch. It does not show whether a product is lawful where you live, suits any person, or matches other batches.

For 7Stax's own testing information, see the 7Stax lab results page. For how 7Stax describes the label details on its mitragynine tablets, see what MIT tablets are.

Frequently asked questions

What does ND or below LOQ mean on a COA?

ND means the lab did not detect the compound. Below LOQ means some may be present but under the smallest amount the method can measure accurately, so ask the lab for the limit value.