Consumables Kits for Cannabis Flower and Hemp - Ensure the potency and safety of cannabis products

Importance of the Topic

The rising legalization and stringent regulations around cannabis necessitate reliable and standardized analytical methods to ensure product potency and safety. Accurate quantitation of cannabinoids, along with detection of pesticides and mycotoxins, is critical for regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and quality control across medicinal and recreational markets.

Objectives and Overview

This application note presents Agilent’s Cannabis Consumables Kits designed to streamline the entire testing workflow. Each kit bundles sample preparation materials, chromatographic columns, and consumables, complemented by detailed application guides, to accelerate method implementation and reduce development time for cannabinoid potency assays and pesticide/mycotoxin screenings.

Methodology and Sample Preparation

Sample extraction and cleanup are optimized to handle the complex cannabis matrix:

• Homogenization of plant material with ceramic beads in 50 mL tubes.
• Liquid extraction using acetonitrile, followed by centrifugation to isolate analytes.
• SPE cleanup on C18 cartridges for pesticides and mycotoxins, with subsequent dilution and filtration.
• Specific dilution schemes for LC/UV potency and LC/MS or GC/MS safety assays.

Chromatographic conditions are preconfigured for rapid deployment:

• LC/UV on Poroshell 120 EC-C18 columns: 9.5 min gradient, 0.1 % formic acid in water and 0.05 % in organic phase.
• State-tailored LC/MS or GC/MS methods for comprehensive pesticide and mycotoxin coverage.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent LC systems with InfinityLab Poroshell columns (EC-C18 or Phenyl-Hexyl).
• Mass spectrometers for LC/MS and GC/MS analyses.
• Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC modules with self-tightening nuts and inert liners.
• Autosamplers with ambient control and variable wavelength detectors (230 nm).

Main Results and Discussion

The consumables kits are designed for up to 400 runs and deliver consistent, high-quality results:

• Cannabinoid potency assay achieves baseline separation of key analytes in under 10 minutes, enabling accurate quantification.
• Pesticide and mycotoxin workflows validated against U.S. state and Canadian target lists for both LC/MS- and GC/MS-amenable compounds.
• High-concentration, ISO-accredited standards minimize recalibration and ensure confidence in quantitation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significant reduction in method development time through preconfigured consumables and detailed guides.
• Single-source procurement of sample prep supplies, standards, and columns.
• Enhanced laboratory productivity with minimized downtime and streamlined troubleshooting.
• Regulatory compliance support via ISO 17025 and ISO 17034 accredited standards and mixes.

Future Trends and Opportunities

As regulatory requirements evolve, laboratories may adopt automated sample preparation, high-throughput LC/MS workflows, and real-time data analytics. Future developments include multi-residue assays for emerging cannabinoids, mycotoxins, and residual solvents, as well as integrated remote monitoring and digital certification across global markets.

Conclusion

Agilent’s Cannabis Consumables Kits offer a validated, end-to-end solution for potency and safety testing. By combining optimized sample preparation, high-performance chromatography, and comprehensive consumables with expert application support, these kits enable laboratories to meet regulatory demands efficiently, achieve reproducible results, and focus on expanding analytical capacity and innovation.