Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing

Presented by: Mike McKenna

Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing

•Cannabichromene (CBC)•Cannabidiol (CBD)•delta-8-THC•delta-9-THC•Cannabigerol (CBG)•Cannabinol (CBN)

Analysis of Cannabidiols in Marijuana Plants:

Fig 1: Cannabinoid-StructuresSource: http://blog.restek.com/?p=7704

Three Stages of Cannabis Analysis:1. Extraction2. Analysis 3. Reporting

Discussion Points:

GenTechScientific.com Booth #105 Instrumentation - Training - Service

Sample must be put into liquid phase.•Step 1: Representative Sampling of Plant•Step 2: Sieving Plant Material•Step 3: Extraction or Sieved Plant Material

Extraction of Marijuana Plant Material


•Cuttings: ▫Taken from all over the plant▫Composited together

Extraction Step 1: Representative Sampling of Plant

Source: www.oregonlive.com


•Sieving:▫Cuttings are placed in a sieve ▫Shaken until a sized

proportion is collected.

Extraction Step 2: Sieving Plant Material

Source: www.allbud.com


•Extraction▫Weigh plant material into a vial

or beaker▫Add solvent▫CO2 extraction

Extraction Step 3: Extraction of Sieved Plant Material


•Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID)•Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)•High Performance Liquid Chromotography (HPLC)• Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)

Analysis of Extracts


Gas Chromatographs are used for the Cannabis testing applications, such as for Residual Solvents, Cannabinoid Characterization and THC potency.• Place aliquot of extract into a heated

injection port• Molecules in the gas phase are

separated by partitioning between the gas phase and the stationary phase

• Detected by ionization in the flame detector

Gas Chromatography (GC/FID)

Fig 2: FIDSource: http://blog.restek.com/?p=7704


Same procedure as Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization but ….• molecules are detected by mass and

mass fragmentation• Most reliable method of identification

Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

Agilent 5973N GC/MSD System with 6890 GC and 7683 Autosampler


Along with a GC, an HPLC can assist in quantifying the potency of a Cannabis sample. It's possible to accurately determine the levels of the components such as THC, THCA, CBD, CDBA and CBN.• Molecules partitioned between liquid

phase and solid support coated with polymer

• Molecules are not degraded by heat

High Pressure LiquidChromatography (HPLC)

Waters 2695 Separations Module with 2487 Detector


When testing for residual solvents such as pesticides, water, butane, carbon dioxide, ethanol and other solvents used in cannabis manufacturing, an LCMS will assist in determining their levels.• Same procedure as liquid

chromatography but molecules are detected by mass fragmentation

• Solvent Residue• Pesticide Residue

Liquid Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)

AB Sciex API 3200 QTRAP® LC/MS/MS


Chromatograms that are created are integrated by several kinds of devices.• Integrator•Chromatography Data Stations• LIMS Systems

Reporting of Results of Extracts


Source: http://blog.restek.com/?p=7704

•Cheap• Labor-intensive•Transcribe results into spreadsheet• Integrator and mathematically corrected results are transferred to final

client report.

Integrator


• Chromatograms are processed by computer software

• Reports are generated with identification of analytes and concentrations

• Results are then added to a final customer report

Chromatography Data Stations


•Results are transferred to a computer server where they are manipulated and placed on a final customer report

• Least labor involved


Laboratory Information Management Systems

Training• We offer customized hands-on training at our location or yours!• Train your team on testing theory, operation of the instrument, how to effectively run samples, and method development.

GenTech Solutions:


Installation• GenTech offers the option to install and setup your lab. • Also includes operator familiarization training from our

expert service engineer.

• Extraction of Marijuana Plant Material▫Representative Sampling, Sieving Plant, Extraction

• Analysis of Extracts▫GC/FID, GC/MS, HPLC, LC/MS Instrumentation

• Reporting of Results of Extracts▫ Integrator, Chromatography Data Solutions, LIMS Systems

• GenTech Services:▫Training & Installation

Summary


References: Restek, Marijuana Growers Headquarters & Analytical 360

Thank You from

Booth #105

Presentations & Public Speaking

Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing