Confidently Analyze Cannabis Flower and Hemp - Application compendium for cannabis potency and safety

Importance of the Topic

Reliable analysis of cannabis flower and hemp is critical for ensuring product safety, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance. As medical and recreational cannabis programs spread globally, laboratories must confirm potency and screen for contaminants such as pesticides and mycotoxins before products reach the market.

Objectives and Overview

This application compendium introduces Agilent Cannabis Consumables Kits designed to streamline sample preparation, chromatographic separation, and detection workflows for potency and safety testing. The goal is to minimize method development, accelerate time to market, and maintain consistent analytical performance across up to 400 sample runs per kit.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation protocols are provided for both cannabinoid quantification (LC/UV) and pesticide/mycotoxin screening (LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS). Consumable kits bundle all necessary reagents, columns, vials, and supplies. Key instrumentation includes:

• Agilent 1220 Infinity II LC System for dedicated cannabinoid separation
• Agilent InfinityLab Poroshell 120 columns for improved peak shape and speed
• Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC coupled to 7010 triple-quadrupole MS for fast GC/MS/MS pesticide analysis
• Agilent J&W Ultra Inert GC columns and Self-Tightening column nuts for low bleed and high inertness

Main Results and Discussion

Implementation of these kits reduces hands-on time by offering pre-validated sample preparation guides and method files. Bundled pricing lowers cost per analysis, and kit design for 400 runs simplifies inventory planning. A complementary ordering guide and online subscription service further optimize workflow by automating resupply of high-use items.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Laboratories benefit from:

• Rapid deployment of validated protocols
• Consistent analytical performance across potency and contaminant testing
• Reduced procurement complexity via single-source kits
• Scalable throughput management for routine QC

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging regulatory requirements will drive demand for expanded contaminant panels and higher throughput. Integration of automated sample handling, digital method exchange, and real-time data analytics will further enhance efficiency. CrossLab service offerings are poised to deliver advanced method optimization and remote support.

Conclusion

Agilent Cannabis Consumables Kits provide a comprehensive, ready-to-use solution that accelerates cannabis potency and safety testing while ensuring data reliability and regulatory compliance.

Reference

• Dedicated Cannabinoid Potency Testing in Cannabis or Hemp Products Using the Agilent 1220 Infinity II LC System (5991-9285EN)
• Quantification of Cannabinoids in Industrial Hemp Using the Agilent 1220 Infinity II LC System (5994-0912EN)
• Determination of Pesticides and Mycotoxins as Defined by California State Recreational Cannabis Regulations: A Combined LC/MS/MS Analysis Method (5994-0648EN)
• Fast Analysis of GC/MS/MS Amenable Pesticides Regulated by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (5994-1019EN)
• Sensitive Workflow to Measure Residual Pesticides and Mycotoxins from the Canadian Target List in Dry Cannabis Flower (5994-0429EN)
• Analysis of Challenging Pesticides with the Agilent Intuvo 9000-7010 GC/MS/MS System: The Fast-5 (5994-1604EN)
• Tackle Emerging Cannabis Regulations with Confidence (5994-1127EN)