What are the most common forms of Cannabis testing?

There isn't just one form of testing which can be carried out to determine the 'quality' of cannabis to indicate if it is safe for human use. Everything from pesticides to heavy metals should be tested for.

Potency Testing

In potency testing cannabinoids are isolated and their strength and efficacy is evaluated. Over 100 different cannabinoids have been isolated from cannabis and their effects vary.

Chromatography (gas and liquid) is one of the most common methods used in potency testing. Some analytical instruments which can be used for cannabis potency testing include:

If you require carrier gas or detector gas for cannabis potency testing, a gas generator from the Peak Scientific Precision series could be the ideal gas solution. To find out which gas generator we would recommend for your instrument and requirements, even if it is not listed above, please contact us.

The Precision Series of hydrogen, nitrogen and zero air generators for Gas Chromatography

Terpene testing

Terpenes are the volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons which are responsible for the odor of a cannabis sample. Every different strain of cannabis has it's own unique terpene composition.

Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography are also commonly used for terpene testing. Some of the instruments which can be used for terpene testing include:

In addition to Peak Scientiifc's Precision series of gas geneartors for gas chromatography, the Solaris XE 35 nitrogen generator could also be used for terpene testing with LC-MS instruments. To discover Peak's full range of gas generators for LC-MS please click here.

Solaris XE 35 nitrogen generator

Pesticide Screening

Pesticide regulations for cannabis cultivation vary depending on the country or state where the cannabis is being grown.This means that pesticide screening is not only necessary for health and safety reasons, it is also often a legal requirement.

Again, Chromatography (either liquid or gas) is the main analytical method used for pesticide screening. Some of the instruments which can be used for pesticide screening include:

_{* The Genius 1051 is the recommended Peak solution for both the 8045, 8050 and 8060, and will provide sufficient gas flow when the 8045/8050/8060 is operating in ‘Default Gas Delivery Mode’. When operating in ‘High Flow Gas Delivery Mode’, the gas flow requirement is increased, which may exceed the capabilities of the Genius 1051, in this instance the Genius 3051 is the recommended solution.}

At Peak Scientific we have a variety of gas generators which we can recommend for pesticide screening, depending on the instrument you use.  Our range of gas solutions include both integrated compressors and compressorless solutions with varying flows, pressures and purities. Contact us now to discover the ideal gas solution for your instrument and application.

Genius XE 35 nitrogen generator

Residual Solvents

Residual solvents are the by-prodcusts which can often be found in processed cannabis. Controlling the amount of residual solvents present in cannabis, and ensuring the amount present remains below the acceptable levels, is important for consumer safety.

Analytical instruments which can be used for residual solvent analysis include:

For residual solvent analysis with gas chromatography, a generator from our Precision series could be the perfect gas solution. Get in touch to discover which generator would best suit your specific requirements.

Heavy Metals

Depending on the growing medium used for cannabis cultivation, different contaminants can be found in the plants. Sometimes these may be heavy metals such as Chromium, Arsenic and Lead which are toxic, so their presence must be monitored to ensure safety.

Some instruments which are used to monitor the presence of heavy metals in cannabis include:

If your application requires hydrogen gas for heavy metal testing, the Peak Scientific Precision Hydrogen Trace 250 may be the best gas solution. Get in touch to find out which gas generator we would recommend to best meet your needs.

Precision Hydrogen Trace 250 

Mycotoxins Analysis

Long term storage of cannabis can result in fungal growth (mold) due to the high moisture content of cannabis. Mycotoxins are a toxic secondary metabolit of mold so it important to make sure that cannabis does not contain unacceptable levels of these toxins.

Instruments which can be used for mycotoxins analysis include:

_{* The Genius 1051 is the recommended Peak solution for both the 8045, 8050 and 8060, and will provide sufficient gas flow when the 8045/8050/8060 is operating in ‘Default Gas Delivery Mode’. When operating in ‘High Flow Gas Delivery Mode’, the gas flow requirement is increased, which may exceed the capabilities of the Genius 1051, in this instance the Genius 3051 is the recommended solution.}

At Peak Scientific we have a range of gas generators which can be used as the gas supply solutions for mycotoxins analysis. The gas solution we would recommend for your application depends on the instrument you are using, it's requirements and your need for compressed air. Contact us now to discover your ideal gas solution.

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