If you're a casual user who buys from a well-known brand and doesn't want to geek out on lab reports, you can skip the deep dive. But that doesn't mean you should ignore COAs entirely. A quick glance at the lab name and batch number is still worth it.

For most people, the key is simply: "Does this product have a COA?" If the answer is no, walk away. There's no good reason for a reputable supplier not to have one.