Cannabis Testing Lab Design & Build

Cannabis labs can be implemented in different steps of the supply chain depending on the goals of the growers, distributors, and the regulators. There has been a large demand increase in independent labs as the marijuana has been decriminalized in the US, to meet the demands of consumers and certify a safe and responsible product.

Growers will utilize cannabis labs to ensure their crops are safe for consumption. Labs will test to ensure that the cannabis is free of contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides and residual solvents.

Distributors implement cannabis labs to verify the characteristics of the products that they are selling. They will test for cannabinoid classification, DNA strain, and CBD and THC potency.

Lastly, regulators have been enlisting the service of independent cannabis labs to help manage the influx of producers seeking regulatory approval. These labs will test for all of the aspects mentioned above.

Having the proper instrumentation to meet testing needs is crucial for having an effective lab. Being a certified dealer for ThermoFisher Scientific, CFI can offer all the instrumentation needed for testing. CBD and THC potency testing: Potency testing is required by most states.

For potency testing, traditional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is considered the gold standard in the industry.

ThermoFisher Scientific offers a variety of HPLCs, with the Vanquish Horizon UHPLC System being quite popular for cannabis labs.

Heavy metals are commonly found in soil and fertilizer. These toxic metals include lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. The plants will draw these metals from the soil so it is important to test the plants to determine that the samples are under the allowable concentration limits for these toxic metals.

Heavy metal testing is performed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ThermoFisher offers the iCAP™ RQ ICP-MS.

Like many other crops in agriculture pesticides are used to keep away insects and rodent and cannabis is no exception. Many states require testing for pesticides to assure no toxic chemical can be exposed to the consumers. Testing for pesticides is one of the more complicated analyses, possibly requiring more than one machine, depending on state regulations.

The majority of pesticides can be detected and measured using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) which operates similarly to the HPLC. For the pesticides that do not ionize well in the LCMS it is recommended to use a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS).

The ThermoFisher Vanquish Horizon UHPLC System has the ability to meet the LCMS needs. The TSQTM 9000 Triple Quadroiuple GC-MS/MS System is a great instrument offered by ThermoFisher.

Residual solvents are chemicals left over from the extraction process. These solvents include ethanol, butane, propane, and hexane. These chemicals are used in large quantities to increase extraction efficiency and to achieve higher levels of purity.

These chemicals are also toxic to humans and most states require lab testing to verify the absence of these solvents from the cannabis. A GCMS can also be utilized with an additional attachment to test for residual solvents.

The HALO purifier does not require HVAC retrofitting or air renewal systems. This saves on installation time and costs. Air is filtered in the same room and recirculated instead of being vented into the atmosphere.

The unit can be mounted either on the ceiling or wall (HEPA H14 only). This further increases space optimization and accounts for multiple lab configurations or design considerations. HALO Smart technology guarantees lab grade air quality by filtering viruses, chemicals and bacterial pollutants.

Floor mounted fume hoods (commonly called walk-in fume hoods) provide a bigger workspace for mobile workstations and larger equipment. This type of hood is floor mounted and does not have a work surface, making it easy for teams to get in and out of the cab. Sash movement configuration can be horizontal sliding or vertical rising.

In cannabis testing and extraction labs, walk-in fume hoods provide safety during the botanical extraction processes and use of rotary evaporators. The enclosed space helps safely isolate and ventilate. There are a wide range of available sizes.

A laminar flow cabinet is designed to prevent contamination of samples or sensitive materials. This cabinet works by drawing air through a HEPA filter at the top or back of the unit. The air is then blown towards the user. This protects the sample. There are several classes of laminar flow hoods. The cabinet materials usually include stainless steel.