Cannabis Testing and Assays
Testing must be carried out by independent laboratories according to established scientific protocol. Assay methods that determine markers must be recognized by the academic community.
Testing and Assays of Cannabis
Quality & Purity · Assay Methods · Medicinals · TVCI Organic+ · Independent Testing
Good Laboratory Practices
In-house and third-party testing labs must have clearly defined and current Good Laboratory Practices policies.
Testing and Assays: Quality and Purity
Quality testing ensures standards of medicinal compounds and all ingredients are documented and are exactly what they claim to be. Purity testing safeguards against toxic contamination of pesticides, heavy metals, plasticizers, micro-toxins, microbes and solvents.
The Marijuana Matrix
Laboratory assay standards for marijuana are being established and new methodologies are being created as knowledge, technology and equipment develop; as governments update minimum standards; as TVCI accreditation continues to establish the highest quality standards in the world.
Determination of Cannabis quality and purity is essential and validated testing methodologies that deliver exact data of marijuana compounds and foreign toxins are key to retaining public trust in the industry and the health of everyone.
Assay Methods
Assay Methods are analytical procedures that access quality and/or measure quantity for the presence, amount or functional activity of a target entity (the analyte). Determining the most verified assay for the analyte in question is part of the new marijuana matrix.
Assay Methods:
Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry – IPC-MS
The wide working range of IPC-MS performs well for the measuring of nutritional and toxic elements in Cannabis. Microwave digestion is performed on samples to prepare them for the IPC-MS technique.
Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry – GC-MS/MS
Analytical technique that combines the features of gas-chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to identify different substances. Important for forensic substance identification because it is used to perform a 100% specific test, which positively identifies the presence of a particular substance.
Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry – LC-MS/MS
Analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography (or HPLC) with the mass analysis capabilities of tandem mass spectrometry (MS).
Mass Spectrometry – MS
Analytical technique that ionizes chemical species and sorts the ions based on their mass to charge ratio. Most commonly single-quadrupole MS is used with GC to analyze terpenes and residual solvents and triple quadrupole MS is used with LC to quantitate pesticides.
Gas Chromatography – GC
Analytical chromatography technique in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. Uses of GC include testing the purity of a particular substance or separating the different components of a mixture.
Liquid Chromatography – LC
Analytical technique to separate, identify, and quantify each component in a mixture. Chromatography involves pumping a mixture through an adsorbent medium, leading to the separation of the components as they flow out the column at different rates.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography – HPLC
Analytical technique to separate, identify, and quantify each component in a mixture. Chromatography involves pumping a mixture through an adsorbent medium, leading to the separation of the components as they flow out the column at different rates.
QuEChERS – Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe
The standard in many laboratories due to it’s effectiveness and safety. Analytical technique that applies a streamlined approach for extraction and chromatographing the resulting extract using Gas or Liquid Chromatography, coupled with Mass Spectrometry. QuEChERS is a thorough, safer, easier and less expensive method for analytical chemists to examine pesticide residues in food.
Medicinal Compounds
THC Testing
CBD Testing
Additional Cannabinoids Testing
Cannabinoid Acids Testing
Terpenes Testing
Flavonoids Testing
Spectrum Testing
Species Determination
TVCI Organic+
TVCI Organic+ ™ is the most comprehensive testing of medicinal mushrooms in the world. Purity testing safeguards against toxic contamination of pesticides, GMOs, heavy metals, plasticizers, microbes and solvents. Routine Certified Organic testing is for toxic pesticides only.
TVCI Organic+ Toxic Pesticide Testing 102
TVCI Organic+ No-GMOs Screening Testing 1
TVCI Organic+ Metals Testing 34
TVCI Organic+ Phthalates 1
TVCI Organic+ Aflatoxins 7
TVCI Organic+ Micro-Biological Testing 6
Independent Laboratories
Testing may be performed in-house as company policy but all testing for official documents must be performed by third-party, independent, accredited laboratories.