Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions

Significance of the Topic

Analytical testing of cannabis products is essential to ensure consumer safety, regulatory compliance and accurate labeling. As medical and recreational markets expand, laboratories must adopt robust, sensitive and high-throughput methods to quantify cannabinoids, terpenes, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, residual solvents, moisture and particle size.

Objectives and Article Overview

This article presents a comprehensive catalog of Shimadzu’s turnkey solutions for cannabis testing laboratories. It outlines method packages for cannabinoid potency, alternative chromatographic techniques, profiling of terpenes, pesticide screening, mycotoxin detection, residual solvent measurement, heavy metal analysis, moisture determination and particle size characterization. References to application notes and recommended platforms are provided for each assay.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Cannabinoid potency is primarily determined by liquid chromatography using HPLC/UHPLC with UV-Vis or PDA detection, as well as LC-MS and LC-MS/MS for enhanced selectivity and mass confirmation. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) offers a green alternative with CO₂-based mobile phases. Gas chromatography with FID or GC-MS(/MS) is used for neutral cannabinoids and volatile analytes. Pesticides are screened by LC-MS/MS (ESI and APCI) or GC-MS/MS. Mycotoxins require ultra-low detection limits by triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS. Residual solvents are measured by headspace GC-MS, while heavy metals rely on ICP-MS after acid digestion. Moisture analyzers provide rapid halogen heating protocols, and laser diffraction systems determine emulsion particle sizes from nanometer to micrometer scales.

Used Instrumentation

• Shimadzu Cannabis Analyzer for Potency (HPLC)
• Nexera-i LC-2040C 3D UHPLC with PDA detector
• LCMS-2020 single-quad LC-MS
• LCMS-8050 triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS
• Nexera UC supercritical fluid chromatograph (SFC)
• GCMS-TQ8050 NX triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS
• GCMS-QP2020 NX GC-MS with HS-20 headspace autosampler
• GC-2030 gas chromatograph with FID
• LCMS-8060 triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS
• ICPMS-2030 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
• MOC63u moisture analyzer
• SALD-2300 laser diffraction particle size analyzer
• LabSolutions DB/CS compliance software

Main Results and Discussion

Shimadzu’s high-throughput HPLC methods quantify 10 cannabinoids in under 8 minutes, with high-sensitivity and high-resolution options extending to 11 compounds. UHPLC-PDA achieves 16 cannabinoids in 4.5 minutes. LC-MS and LC-MS/MS workflows offer superior signal-to-noise, selectivity and confirmation via MRM transitions. SFC profiles nine cannabinoids with reduced solvent usage and waste. GC-FID and GC-MS(/MS) detect neutral cannabinoids and volatile contaminants. LC-MS/MS workflows quantify over 200 pesticides in under 12 minutes. ICP-MS measures trace heavy metals at sub-ppb levels. Moisture analyzers rapidly determine sample water content, and laser diffraction monitors emulsion stability and particle size distributions for nanometer-scale formulations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Regulatory compliance with state and federal limits
• Accurate potency labels for medical dosing
• Contaminant screening ensures product safety
• Method scalability from R&D to high-volume QC
• Green techniques reduce solvent use and waste
• Integrated software supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance

Future Trends and Applications

Advancements in high-resolution Q-TOF LC-MS, MALDI-TOF microbial profiling and online SFE-SFC-MS/MS will drive deeper insights into minor cannabinoids, terpenes and contaminants. Automation, AI-driven data analysis and expanded multiplexing are expected to accelerate method development and data interpretation. Nanoparticle delivery systems and real-time process monitoring will broaden product innovation and quality control.

Conclusion

Shimadzu offers a full suite of validated analytical platforms and support services for end-to-end cannabis testing. From potency to contaminants, these solutions enable laboratories to achieve high precision, throughput and regulatory compliance, ensuring product quality and consumer safety.

Reference

1. Shimadzu Application News No. HPLC-032
2. Shimadzu Application News No. HPLC-020
3. Shimadzu Application News No. HPLC-028
4. Shimadzu Application News No. LCMS-108
5. Shimadzu Application News No. HPLC-034
6. Cardenia V. et al. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2018, 1283-1292