Cannabis is a complex mixture of chemicals, many of which are present in extremely low concentrations. Quantitative analysis of trace constituents such as cannabinoids (THC, CBN, CBD), pesticides and mycotoxins in cannabis flowers and concentrates is essential in ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of products. While cannabis testing methods vary, and regulatory demand are changing rapidly, its clear that sustaining analytical excellence throughout the supply chain is crucial to business success.
Waters is a trusted supplier to the pharmaceutical industry, with laboratory tools designed and endorsed for heavily regulated environments. Alongside our unmatched level of method development support and award-winning service, we partner with each customer to ensure their labs are running efficiently, with the highest level of analytical confidence, and a faster return on investment.
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Pesticides
Testing cannabis for pesticides is an important step in ensuring product safety and quality. The number of regulated pesticides that are required to be monitored varies by state, as do the action limits which range from 0.01 µg/g (10 ppb) to above 1 µg/g (1 ppm). Waters robust and rapid method for monitoring pesticides delivers results below the current guidelines so that you are compliant today and in the future. Essential Reading: Recommended Products: Xevo TQ-S micro LC-MS/MS Xevo TQ-GC GC-MS/MS Key benefits
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Mycotoxins
Essential Reading: Recommended Products: Vicam Aflatoxin test kits Vicam Series-4EX Fluorometer Xevo TQ-S micro LC-MS/MS Key benefits
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Potency
Cannabis sativa is a complex natural product that is known to produce at least 100 different cannabinoids. Traditionally, laboratories have focused their analysis on five core compounds that the strength of any cannabis product is measured by: d9-THC, THC-A, CBD-A, CBD, and CBN. Recently, more attention has been paid to some of the other minor cannabinoids, which requires methods that are capable of higher resolution separations. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Ultra Performance LC are ideal for potency determination as they can identify and measure structurally similar cannabinoids and their different forms (e.g. free form and corresponding acid forms of THC and CBD) in a single analysis. Essential Reading: Recommended Products: Alliance HPLC ACQUITY H-Class Plus UPLC ACQUITY UPC2 Key Benefits
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Our comprehensive analytical solutions are designed to exceed regulatory compliance requirements, reduce operational costs, and increase productivity.
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Establishing Testing Standards - A Case Study
The ProVerde founders knew credibility was key to establishing a successful product testing facility, and they focused on building trustworthiness from the beginning.
“We didn’t set it up like a traditional cannabis lab. We knew what a pharmaceutical lab looked like, and we knew what a university research lab looked like. That’s how we built out our laboratory from the start.” - DR. CHRISTOPHER HUDALLA, ProVerde Laboratories Inc. Co-founder and CSO.
ProVerde scientists knew that they needed to detect and quantify pesticides down to the lowest possible levels, and in the presence of interferences from complex matrices. Large variations in the concentrations of different pesticides would further add to this challenge.
Working closely with Waters, they explored the use of multiple techniques to achieve the most reliable analytical results possible, while maintaining the company’s goal for an environmentally friendly, green approach.
Waters does not support, encourage or promote the use of its products or services in connection with an illegal use, cultivation or trade of cannabis or cannabis products. Waters products are intended to be used for cannabis related purposes only in compliance with all applicable laws in a manner that promotes public safety and/or in connection with federally approved research or state approved medical research.
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