Analytical Methods

Articles

This work describes an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method for the analysis of various heavy metals in cannabis sativa plant material.

The Big Four Heavy Metals in Cannabis: Sample Preparation and Analysis via ICP-MS

Patricia Atkins is a Senior Applications Scientist with SPEX CertiPrep and a member of both the AOAC and ASTM committees for cannabis.

From simple separations to detailed wavelength analysis, we examine the important concepts and techniques needed to make liquid chromatography work its best in the laboratory.

Looking with Light: Understanding the Principles of Analytical Liquid Chromatography

This article takes a look at the major atomic spectroscopy techniques and compares their performance characteristics and in particular examines the limits of quantitation for the four heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, and Hg) currently being regulated in cannabis and hemp by most states in the US.

Measuring Heavy Metals in Cannabis: What Atomic Spectroscopic Technique Is Right for Your Laboratory?

Keystone Labs is an accredited testing facility with a good manufacturing practice (GMP) establishment license. Jodi McDonald, president and founder of Keystone Labs, based in Edmonton Alberta, Canada discusses their role in the industry.

Quality Matters: A Chat with Keystone Labs President, Jodi McDonald

Ric Cuchetto discusses the technology behind THC remediation and some of the challenges it presents.

THC Remediation: A Basic Understanding

Brian C. Smith, PhD, is Founder, CEO, and Chief Technical Officer of Big Sur Scientific. He is the inventor of the BSS series of patented mid-infrared based cannabis analyzers. Dr. Smith has done pioneering research and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to cannabis analysis, and sits on the editorial board of Cannabis Science and Technology. He has worked as a laboratory director for a cannabis extractor, as an analytical chemist for Waters Associates and PerkinElmer, and as an analytical instrument salesperson. He has more than 30 years of experience in chemical analysis and has written three books on the subject. Dr. Smith earned his PhD on physical chemistry from Dartmouth College. Direct correspondence to: 

Suggestions on how to deal with the problem of inter-laboratory error in the cannabis industry.

The Pet Lab Syndrome

Here a scientifically based representative sampling plan for hemp grows is presented, detailing how to collect composite samples, how many to collect, and how to analyze them.

A Proposed Representative Sampling Plan for Hemp Grows

A proper set of hemp standard reference materials courtesy of the University of Kentucky are now available and the implications of this for hemp testing are discussed.

Hope on the Hemp Testing Horizon

How quickly can a cannabis or hemp testing laboratory see return on investment?

Starting a QC Cannabis or Hemp Laboratory: Testing Requirements, Initial Expenses, and ROI

Josh Crossney is the columnist and editor of “Cannabis Crossroads” and a contributing editor to 

 magazine. Crossney is also the president and CEO of Cannabis Science Conference. Direct correspondence to:


Dr. Scott Kuzdzal and Melissa Fauth share their stories, challenges, and lessons learned, offering advice to those looking for success in a complex market.

Early Cannabis Science Industry Pioneers Share Their Stories, Challenges, Advice, and Lessons Learned

Why are those extra decimal places possibly meaningless? How can you use significant figures to discern the true meaning of your cannabis analysis measurements?

Significant Figures and Margin of Error-Or Why the Fourth Decimal Place in Your Potency Reading is Probably Meaningless

Higher Education: It’s Not Just a Pipe Dream Anymore

Bob Clifford, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments; Derek Laine, Trace Analytics; Sandy Mangan, SPEX SamplePrep LLC; Justin Steimling, Restek Corporation; and  Katherine Stenerson, MilliporeSigma discuss the most important thing newcomers to the field need to learn.

Ask the Experts: Cannabis Testing/Analytical Methods, Part IV: If You Were Teaching a Class on Cannabis Testing, What Is the Most Important Thing that Newcomers to the Field Would Need to Learn?

A number of causes of hemp testing insanity are documented such as different states using different THC measures to determine legality, lack of representative sampling, and more.

Hemp Testing Insanity

A look at the capabilities of microwave-assisted extraction and how the cannabis industry can utilize it

Strain-Specific Isolation of Terpenes Utilizing Microwave-Assisted Extraction

is a Senior Scientist at Agilent Technologies and a Visiting Professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

This review introduces a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and compares its performance to culture-based methods.

Optimized Cannabis Microbial Testing: Combined Use of Extraction Methods and Pathogen Detection Tests Using Quantitative  Polymerase Chain Reaction

Leading scientists and researchers from the cannabis industry-Bob Clifford, Derek Laine, Sandy Mangan, Katherine Stenerson, and Justin Steimling-offer advice on how to get started for people that are new to cannabis testing.

Ask the Experts: Cannabis Testing/Analytical Methods, Part III: What Is the Best Piece of Advice You Can Offer for People that Are New to Cannabis Testing?

Experts in cannabis anaylsis discuss, in their opinion, the the best method for cannabis analysis in part II of this two-part series.

Ask the Experts: Cannabis Testing/Analytical Methods, Part II: Which Technique or Method Do You Think Is the Most Successful for Cannabis Testing? 

Ask the Experts: Cannabis Testing/Analytical Methods, Part I: What Is the Biggest Challenge Facing the Cannabis Industry?

What to consider when creating or using certified reference materials.