Hemp legalization, safety concerns, challenges and solutions in testing -- major developments in 2019 spotlight progress in the industry and areas for growth and maturation for 2020 and beyond

The iQ-Check Aspergillus kit offers rapid detection of the four pathogenic Aspergillus species of concern, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. terreus, with high sensitivity and specificity in a range of cannabis sample backgrounds.

This article describes the basic principles of the major types of microwave digestion technology and offers suggestions as to which might be the best approach for cannabis heavy metals testing based on sample matrix, digestion efficiency, sample throughput, productivity, and overall cost of analysis.

High-performance water filtration systems, such as the arium® Series water purification system from Sartorius, provide long-term practical and economical advantages to cannabis testing laboratories and address the needs of this changing industry.

In the analytical area, several themes stood out during the 2019 Cannabis Science Conference in Portland, OR September 4-7 -- Microbial Detection, Genetic Analysis, and Terpenes Testing. In this article we focus on microbial contamination and new testing products in this area.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and variations thereof have become the state-of-the-art in cannabis testing, producing the highest sensitivity and specificity for metal contaminants analysis – but how do these techniques work?

We explore the testing side of cannabis processing and offer a few insights on methods and sources for the appropriate testing equipment and consumables.

Whether the lab is designed to ensure consistency in potency and safety or to simply check cannabinoid levels in grow operations, processors should be aware of the best extraction methods and equipment sources appropriate for their needs. Take a look at our quick guide.

The iQ-Check RT-PCR system, Prep Automation, and RAPID’Chromogenic Media provide fast and accurate methods for cannabis microbial testing and quality analysis.

Lab Society specializes, not only in the manufacturing of the right equipment, but in consultation and training programs for the Cannabis Industry.

We are on the brink of several medical and scientific achievements that will equal great success for the field -- developments which will play critical roles in shaping further legal and political activities going forward.

The PRO homogenizers and generator probes from PRO Scientific are precision designed for the most demanding cannabis processing and testing applications.

There are many challenges in the cannabis testing industry -- from a cost perspective, sourcing the right analytical testing equipment can of critical value.

Many factors are at play in the cannabis testing business, and quality instrument vendors are sensitive to the needs and limitations of start up labs. The most important (and expensive) aspects involve securing the equipment, hiring the chemists and staff, and configuring the infrastructure to house the operation.

For those planning to enter the cannabis testing business, a sound strategy and a reliable partner for instrumentation and expertise is essential.

To succeed in the dynamic cannabis industry, labs must have a resource for testing procedures, instrument capabilities, and equipment questions in general.