Analytical Tests
Cannabinoid Profiling and Potency
The potency of cannabis is measured through profiling cannabinoids, which is what gives cannabis its psychoactive and medicinal properties. The cannabinoids many consumers are interested in are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). However, there are seven other major and minor molecules that we test at Bloom Labs. Testing for potency is required to determine the cannabinoid concentrations in your product. We use state-of-the-art equipment like our ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) to measure your cannabinoids.
Aflatoxins
You need to be certain that there are no harmful toxins or chemicals growing in your cannabis, which is why testing for Aflatoxins in cannabis is a requirement under the Cannabis Act. Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins produced by different types of moulds that are extremely toxic to humans and are considered to have poisonous and carcinogenic properties.
Microbiological Analyses
Microbes are types of bacteria, yeasts and moulds that are often not visible to the naked eye. The presence of microbes can be common for cannabis, particularly for cannabis that is grown indoors. Although in some cases, microbes are beneficial to human health, some types can cause damage to the plant or be harmful to humans. BloomLabs uses European Pharmacopeia (EP) compliant cannabis testing methods to discover any traces of salmonella, escherichia coli or bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria. We’ll also perform a total aerobic microbial count and total combined yeast and moulds count.
Moisture Determination and Water Activity
Providing a water analysis of your cannabis sample will help ensure that the end user has an optimal experience. When the moisture is too high, it may promote mould formation that can flag your product for failure according to Health Canada’s standards.
Pesticide Screening
Canada’s cannabis regulations state that licensed producers cannot use unauthorized pest control products in the cultivation or production of cannabis. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) currently lists 22 registered products that are approved for use with cannabis. If an unregistered product is used on cannabis, it may cause serious harm to the consumer. Our pesticide screening will detect all 96 PMRA banned pesticides for cannabis and confirm that your product is safe for use. For a full list of banned and approved products, please visit Health Canada.
Foreign Material Inspection
A foreign matter inspection is a physical and visual examination of the product. This analysis will confirm the presence of unwanted materials or damaged product.
Residual Solvents (Extracts)
There are three classifications of solvents based on their level of risk to humans. Coming into contact with solvents can lead to significant health issues, including headaches, nausea and more. Due to these potential risks, Health Canada limits the type and amount of residual solvents that can remain in cannabis extracts, which is why testing is a requirement under the Cannabis Act.
Heavy Metal Analyses
Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) are often referred to as heavy metals due to their high mass and high-density properties and are typically found in the majority of soils. During the growing process, plants can uptake these containments. At BloomLabs, we have a state-of-the-art equipment which allows us to analyze these metals at low levels.
You want your product to be top-notch, which is why the following luxury services are also available:
Terpene Profile
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds that give cannabis its unique flavour and scent. While analyzing for terpenes is not required by Health Canada, a terpene breakdown will provide insight into your product to help with marketing purposes. It can also be beneficial to list a terpene profile on your product to help clients find the right strain to meet their needs. Our tests use a process that identifies over 30 terpene compounds.
Density (Extracts)
Performing an extract density test can help define your cannabinoid concentrations in either an amount per gram of extract or per millilitre of extract. At BloomLabs, we can provide you with an extract density analysis as an additional option.
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