Analytical Services
CANNABINOIDS
Properly characterized Cannabis Potency is critical for product purity and safety. We screen for the eleven primary cannabinoids found in Cannabis including THC, THCa, CBD, CBDa using industry leading HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS instrumentation.
TERPENOIDS
Hydrocarbon content give every Cannabis strain its unique fingerprint. These terpenes also give each strain their own distinct flavor and therapeutic qualities. These strain important profiles are quantified using headspace GC-FID and GC-MS.
HEAVY METALS
Soil and water sources used by growers can be contaminated with heavy metals, which leech into plant tissue and are passed on to consumers. An accumulation over time of toxic elements can lead to serious health problems.
RESIDUAL SOLVENTS
We detect the presence of harmful solvents, impurities and chemicals which can be present in concentrated forms of Cannabis. Extractions potentially produce residues of butane, CO2, propane, ethanol, and other chemicals.
WATER CONTENT
Moisture content measures the water concentration in a sample. Water activity measures the availability of water to microorganisms. These measurements are critical to protect cannabis products against spoilage during storage.
MICROBIOLOGY
Americanna offers the most sophisticated microbial testing available in the industry, quantitative Polymerase Chain-Reaction (qPCR) technology. Cannabis products must be properly tested for harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi.
PESTICIDES
Pesticides and agricultural agents linger in the soil and can be present in soil amendments and irrigation water. These chemicals are absorbed in the cannabis plant and can find their way into consumer products. A complete analysis requires both LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS instrumentation to detect trace amounts.
MYCOTOXINS
The term ‘mycotoxin’ refers to the toxic chemical products, Alflatoxins and Ocratoxins, produced by fungi that readily colonize crops and are capable of causing disease in humans and animals. These contaminants are detected at trace amounts by LC-MS/MS.
Accurate and Safe Testing with Short Turn-arounds
Regulatory changes and increasingly positive support for the use of cannabis and cannabis-based products has resulted in development of numerous medical cannabis products. At Americanna, we see these products as any pharmaceutical or product intended for medicinal use; where consumer safety is our number one priority. The product’s safety and efficacy must be demonstrated, which requires an increasing need for highly professional analytical services. Our vast experience in analytical services for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries means we are in a unique position to help our clients with all stages of testing and evaluation.
