Hemp Testing Laboratory Solutions

Significance of the topic

Comprehensive analytical testing is essential in the expanding hemp industry to guarantee product safety, label accuracy and regulatory compliance. Quality testing protects consumers from contaminants, supports grower certification and underpins the credibility of medicinal and recreational hemp markets.

Objectives and overview of the study

This document presents a turnkey portfolio of Shimadzu analytical platforms and services tailored for hemp laboratories. It covers all stages of testing from potency and terpene profiling to contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents and mycotoxins. The goal is to deliver scalable, validated methods with rapid deployment and ongoing support.

Methodology and instrumentation

Analytical approaches are selected to meet sensitivity, throughput and regulatory requirements. Core techniques include:

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with three pre-validated method packages: high throughput (sub-8-minute analysis for 11 cannabinoids), high sensitivity (adds THCV in under 10 minutes) and high resolution (baseline separation of 11 cannabinoids in under 30 minutes).
• Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC–MS/MS with headspace sampling for terpene profiling and residual solvent quantitation.
• Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for comprehensive analysis of up to 211 pesticides in under 12 minutes.
• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for trace and heavy metal determination following acid digestion.
• Halogen-heater moisture balances (MOC63u/MOC-120H) for moisture content assessment.
• LC–MS/MS for mycotoxin detection at ultralow levels.
• LabSolutions DB/CS software for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance and integrated data management.

Instrumentation

• Hemp Analyzer HPLC system with certified reference materials and three method packages.
• Shimadzu NexLeaf™ CBX™ columns and vial consumables.
• GCMS-TQ8050 NX and GCMS-QP2020 NX with HS-20 headspace sampler, optional AOC-20i/AOC-6000 autosamplers.
• LCMS-8050 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
• GCMS-TQ8050 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
• ICPMS-2030 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
• MOC63u and MOC-120H moisture balances.
• LabSolutions DB/CS compliant software.

Main results and discussion

Validated throughput and sensitivity metrics demonstrate:

• Rapid quantitation of major and minor cannabinoids with flexible HPLC workflows.
• Identification of over 3,000 flavor and fragrance compounds for terpene profiling via GC–MS.
• Detection limits in the low parts-per-billion range for pesticides by LC–MS/MS.
• Robust multi-element analysis of toxic metals with ICP-MS.
• Reliable residual solvent screening using headspace GC–MS/MS.
• Repeatable moisture content measurement essential for product stability.
• Ultrasensitive mycotoxin detection supporting safe storage guidelines.

Benefits and practical applications of the method

• Turnkey methodologies enable labs to begin testing within one day of installation, minimizing method development time.
• Comprehensive service packages cover preventive maintenance, calibration and lifetime technical support.
• Modular instrumentation platforms accommodate evolving regulatory lists and matrix complexities.
• Scalable solutions for small quality-control labs to high-throughput commercial operations.

Future trends and possibilities of use

Emerging directions include:

• Integration of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) coupled with MS for rapid sample preparation and isomer separation.
• High-resolution accurate-mass Q-TOF and MALDI-TOF MS for advanced profiling and microbial identification.
• Real-time monitoring of cultivation environments and in-line process analytics.
• Application of AI-driven data analytics for pattern recognition and regulatory reporting.
• Standardization of hemp-specific analytical protocols across jurisdictions.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s comprehensive suite of validated analytical platforms, combined with expert support and compliance software, empowers hemp laboratories to meet current and future testing demands. From potency to contaminants, these turnkey solutions facilitate efficient, reliable and regulatory-ready workflows.