Ensure the Safety and Quality of Cannabis- and Hemp-Based Products

Importance of the Topic

Cannabis and hemp products require rigorous safety and quality testing to protect consumers and comply with evolving regulations. Accurate quantitation of active compounds and detection of contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and pathogens are essential for public health, regulatory adherence, and maintaining market confidence.

Study Objectives and Overview

This whitepaper from Agilent Technologies outlines a comprehensive analytical workflow for cannabis and hemp testing labs. Its objectives are to minimize analytical risk, maximize laboratory throughput, and future-proof operations against changing compliance requirements by leveraging integrated instrumentation, validated methods, and expert support.

Methodology and Applied Instrumentation

The proposed multi-platform strategy addresses the complexity of cannabis matrices and regulatory panels:

• Potency and Cannabinoid Profiling: LC-UV on Agilent 1220, 1260, 1290 Infinity II and FTIR on Agilent Cary 630 for THC, CBD, and minor cannabinoid quantitation.
• Pesticide and Mycotoxin Screening: Dual approach using LC/MS/MS (Agilent 1260 Infinity II with 6470 or Ultivo TQ) and GC/MS/MS (Agilent 8890/Intuvo 9000 with 7010 TQ) to achieve ppb sensitivity.
• Heavy Metals and Nutrient Analysis: ICP-MS using Agilent 7800 Cannabis Analyzer (with HMI and optional SPS 4 autosampler) for toxic metals and nutrient profiling in plant and environmental samples.
• Residual Solvents and Terpene Profiling: Headspace GC (7697A with 8890/Intuvo 9000) coupled to FID/MSD (5977B) for volatile solvent quantitation and rapid terpene fingerprinting.
• Microbial Screening: qPCR on AriaMx Real-Time PCR system with Medicinal Genomics assays for multiplex detection of Salmonella, E. coli, Aspergillus spp., and molds.
• Data Management: MassHunter software for unified MS data analysis and OpenLab for secure, audit-ready data storage and compliance under ISO 17025.

Main Findings and Discussion

The multi-platform workflow enables laboratories to:

• Meet stringent regulatory limits for a broad array of analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity.
• Streamline operations via preconfigured methods, consolidated consumable kits, and validated instrument setups.
• Scale sample throughput and diversify testing scope as regulatory requirements expand.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Comprehensive analytical coverage of potency, contaminants, and quality markers in a unified workflow.
• Reduced time to implementation and total cost of ownership through pre-owned instrument options and turnkey kits.
• Ongoing technical support, method development assistance, and flexible financial solutions to ensure continuous lab operation.

Future Trends and Applications

Emerging directions in cannabis analytics include:

• Automation and robotics for high-throughput sample preparation and data processing.
• AI-driven data analysis for predictive quality control and anomaly detection.
• Development of portable sensors and field-deployable platforms for on-site screening.
• Expansion of testing panels to cover novel synthetic cannabinoids and emerging contaminants.

Conclusion

By integrating Agilent’s modular instruments, validated methods, and comprehensive software and services, laboratories can deliver reliable, high-throughput cannabis and hemp testing that meets current regulations and adapts to future analytical challenges.

References

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4. Fischedick J. Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes in High-THC Cannabis sativa. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1).
5. Tangahu B. et al. Heavy Metals Uptake by Plants through Phytoremediation. Int J Chem Eng. 2011;939161:31.
6. McPartland J. et al. Contaminants of Concern in Cannabis: Microbes, Heavy Metals and Pesticides. Botany Biotechnol. 2017:457-474.
7. Farrer D. Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process for Cannabis Contaminant Testing. 2015.