For the first time, the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) INTERNATIONAL Research Institute granted its Reviewed and Recognized certification to a cannabis potency testing laboratory.
In a recent press release (1), the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) INTERNATIONAL Research Institute announced that Viridis Laboratories is the first laboratory to receive its Reviewed and RecognizedSM (R2) certificate.
“We are pleased to announce that Viridis Laboratories is the first company to complete our rigorous R2 program verifying the performance claims of the method,” said Scott Coates, AOAC Research Institute Senior Director. “Viridis has demonstrated a high degree of scientific and analytical excellence.”
Viridis Laboratories was granted the certificate for the LOM 7.1c Cannabinoid Analysis in Flower method using an ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with a diode array detector (DAD), LOM 7.1c Cannabinoid Analysis in Flower by UHPLC-DAD (2). “All R2-certified methods are evaluated for accuracy, repeatability, limit of detection, and selectivity,” the press release states (1). “Only methods that meet specified criteria are granted R2 status. Certificates and certification reports are posted for public access on the AOAC website.”
According to AOAC INTERNATIONAL (1), the method underwent an extensive evaluation process that involved several rounds of reporting and review as well as rigorous testing from an independent third-party laboratory and third-party scientific review panel to be the first-ever company to complete the R2 program.
AOAC INTERNATIONAL is “a 501(c)(3), independent, third party, not-for-profit association and voluntary consensus standards developing organization” (1).It also operates the Cannabis Analytical Science Program (CASP), which developed the Standard Methods Performance Requirements® (SMPR®) and prescribes the acceptance criteria for evaluating cannabis potency methods (1).
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