Updated 05/13/2026
Whoever manages your QA Samples and labels can put a COA within one scan of any retail-ready product. Adding a QR code to a label that pulls up the certificate of analysis (COA) when scanned means buyers and inspectors can verify what's in the package without contacting you directly — and in some states, including Montana, this is a compliance requirement, not just a convenience.
Before you start
The lab certificate PDF must already be uploaded to the relevant QA Sample. See Uploading Lab Certificate PDFs to QA Results below if you haven't done this yet.
You'll need permissions that allow you to access Admin > QA Samples and Admin > Labels/Templates.
For instructions on managing permissions, refer to Wholesale: Manage Users.
Uploading Lab Certificate PDFs to QA Results
Before a QR code can pull up a COA, the certificate has to be attached to the correct QA Sample. Whoever holds the lab report uploads it here first — get this step wrong (uploading to the wrong Sample ID) and the QR code will resolve to the wrong product's certificate, which is a compliance and buyer-trust problem, not just a cosmetic one.
1. Head to Admin > QA Samples
2. Locate the QA Sample ID to which the COA belongs, then click the blue Cert button
3. Drop the lab certificate PDF file or click on this area to select the file for uploading
4. Once the COA is uploaded, GrowFlow automatically creates a QA COA URL link to host the PDF for anyone to view by scanning the QR code on your labels.
Related article: See Wholesale: Admin QA Samples for a full walkthrough of the QA Samples page.
Adding COA QR Codes to Labels
1. Head to Admin > Labels/Templates
2. Locate the label to which you would like to add the QR Code, then click Editor.
3. On the left-hand side, click Barcode, then select the QR code option to drop the QR code on the canvas.
4. Under the QR Code Info, scroll down to select QaCoaUrl from the Field(Text) drop-down.
Note: Each lab certificate PDF that is uploaded to GrowFlow automatically creates a QA COA URL link to host the PDF for anyone to view by scanning the QR code.
5. Click on the corners to resize the QR code and drag and drop it to your preferred placement on the label
6. Finish by clicking Save
Success State
Your QR code is ready to print once a test scan pulls up the correct COA for that specific product — not a blank page, not a different product's certificate. Scan it with your phone before printing at volume to confirm the link, the PDF content, and the Sample ID all match.
Related article: See Wholesale: Create Your Own Custom Labels for the full label editor walkthrough, including canvas setup and Dynamic Fields.
What Can Go Wrong
Scanning the QR code shows a blank page or an error. The COA PDF likely hasn't been uploaded to that QA Sample yet, or the upload didn't complete. Go to Admin > QA Samples, confirm the Cert button shows a file attached, and re-upload if needed.
Scanning the QR code shows the wrong COA. The certificate was uploaded to the wrong QA Sample ID, or the label is pulling from a different Sample than the product it's on. Check the Sample ID on both the QA Sample record and the label/inventory item they're meant to match.
The QR code won't scan or reads as invalid. The code is too small for the print resolution, or it's been resized disproportionately. Resize from a corner (not an edge) to keep it square, and make sure it's large enough for your label stock and printer DPI.
The QR code is missing from the printed label even though it shows in the editor. The Save step may not have completed. Reopen the label in the editor and confirm the QR code is still present on the canvas before printing again.
Text or other label elements overlap the QR code. Elements were placed too close together during layout. Reopen the editor and check spacing around the QR code — most scanners need a quiet margin around the code to read it reliably.