Batch

A batch, or lot, is a defined quantity of product made in one production run under the same conditions and from the same materials.

Manufacturers assign each batch its own identifier so that every unit can be traced back to the raw materials, equipment, dates and operators involved. Testing is performed on samples drawn from that batch, and the results are expected to represent the whole run. If a problem surfaces later, the batch is the unit that gets investigated or recalled.

For a reader of a certificate of analysis, the batch is the link between the paper and the container in hand. A certificate belongs to one batch, and its cannabinoid and contaminant figures apply only to that batch. A certificate for a different or older batch, or a generic certificate with no batch identifier at all, does not describe the product being held, however reassuring its numbers look.