Analysis
Cannabis
From inception through cultivation and derivative fabrication, third party analysis is a vital step in becoming a national or international cannabis derivative supplier.
KELAB brings hands-on experience from the global markets, (USA, Canada, Europe and Colombia) with significant expertise ensuring compliance across the entire product life-cycle.
Accurate testing throughout the entire production will ensure your business has enough information in order to develop and optimize the production of biomass and your extraction processes.
Agricultural Certification Packages
- We provide on-site service with equipment and analysts to support you through this process
- Special, reduced-price packages for multiple samples in support of your R&D and strains genetic profiling
Potency
We use High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection for potency analysis. Our test method implements advanced instrumentation combined with the latest technology in HPLC columns allowing for faster turnaround time and high efficiency of separation.
Unlike other labs, we chose HPLC-UV over GC-MS to detect and quantitate both, the active and non-active form of cannabinoids (CBD/CBDA and THC/THCA)
For standard agronomic evaluation sowings and seed register before ICA we provide analytical services which will allow to identify and quantify, THC, CBD and CBN. However, we are also able to detect and quantify up to extended profile cannabinoids offering a competitive advantage in an ever-changing market where certain API’s (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) will commoditize, while others will be novel and highly valued.
We have optimized the chromatography conditions to achieve fast and accurate quantitation of cannabinoids by HPLC
Automated headspace injection system (CTC-Combi PAL) allows reproducible and fast injection of samples for residual solvents determination
Residual Solvents
The use of organic solvents to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flowers can result in contaminated extracts. Furthermore, even with CO2 or solvent-less extractions, solvents used for the cleaning of equipment may end up as residues in the final product.
At Kelab, we measure residual solvents in cannabis products by GC-FID and GC-MS using the same rigorous analytical methods used to control the presence of residual solvents in pharmaceutical products as per USP<467>
We offer a comprehensive solvent screening for manufactured cannabis products for both R&D and compliance testing. Our team of experts can help you design a residual solvents control strategy based on your particular product and manufacturing process.
Pesticide Residue
Pesticides are used in agriculture to prevent the spread of insects and other bugs. Because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, pesticides must be controlled in cannabis products to very low (ppb and ppt) levels. Even if pesticides are not applied directly to cannabis cultivars, cross contamination by pesticides migration in outdoor plantations represent a risk to the safety of cannabis products.
KELAB offers a sensitive and comprehensive pesticide screening platform using the latest technology in Ultra High Performance (UPLC) Liquid Chromatograph coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) for confirmation and quantitation. Offering excellent sensitivity and throughput, the ultra-low detection limits provided by KELAB proprietary methodology make this technique ideal for the analysis of pesticides controlled by international regulatory agencies.
Dual Source QSight 420 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer can detect pesticides well below the most stringent regulations from the US and Canada
Automated headspace injection system (CTC-Combi PAL) allows reproducible and fast injection of samples for identification an quantitation of terpenes by GC/MS
Terpene Profile
Besides testing for cannabinoid potency having an accurate and comprehensive terpene profile from your product Is vital in the production of biomass crude, full and broad-spectrum extracts. It is now understood that terpenes go beyond organoleptic properties such as sell and taste. The synergistic relation they have with cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors in the human body make them and integral component of the therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant.
At Kelab, we identify and quantify up to 21 terpenes by Automated Headspace GC/MS. Our results give you the ability to classify products and breed varieties based on terpene profiles and their properties.
Some of the terpenes typically analyzed are:
- Alpha-pinene
- Delta-3-careen
- Beta-Myrcene
- Eucalyptol (Cineole)
- Alpha-terpineol
- R)-(+)-Limonene
- Linalool
- Beta-Caryophyllene
- Alpha-humulene
- (-)-Borneol
Heavy Metals
Heavy metal contamination is frequent in agricultural produce such as Cannabis. Elemental impurities from fertilizers, water and sometimes the soil itself may appear in your biomass and extracts. Some of these heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead are ubiquitous and can enter the cannabis plant as they grow accumulating in flowers. Processing contaminated cannabis flowers will result in even higher levels of heavy metals in the extract or final product either by concentration or accumulation from the processing equipment.
Our lab utilizes state of the art ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) technology and validated methods to test for elemental impurities in soil, cannabis flowers, extracts and final product. We rely on years of experience developing testing procedures and control strategies in pharmaceutical products.
ICP-MS provides limits of detection of elemental impurities at the ppb level complying with international regulations
Mycotoxins
Highly toxic mycotoxins such as aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are produced by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nominus, and Aspergillus parasiticus fungi after feed, crop or harvest exposure to moisture or warm temperatures.
Inappropriate harvest condition or agricultural practices increase the risk of occurrence of these mycotoxins representing a potential risk to the end consumer.
We use UPLC couple to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to detect and quantify mycotoxin presence in cannabis flowers.
Getting your Analysis Started
