One of the essential components of cannabis, hemp, and CBD testing is accurately determining cannabinoid potency. ACS meticulously quantifies 32 different major and minor cannabinoids using our Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatographs and advanced methodologies.
Testing potency beyond THC & CBD
Cannabis potency testing measures the cannabinoids present in your cannabis sample and measures the strength of those compounds. ACS Laboratory uses an Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), which is the preferred instrument for testing cannabis edibles and extracts due to its ability to test samples at room temperature without requiring a catalyst to produce a heat reaction. This method can also test for THC Acid (THCA) and CBD Acid (CBDA), which a gas chromatograph would not.
MATRIX
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Products and Edibles
ANALYTES
10-32 Count
INSTRUMENT
LCUV
Potency 10
State-mandated nationwide standard for all retail products derived from hemp.
Potency 10
State-mandated nationwide standard for all retail products derived from hemp.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
10 Count
Instrument
LCUV
NOTICE: This is the potency test mandated by each state's governing body for hemp.
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
Potency 11
State-mandated by the Florida OMMU for all products sold in Florida MMTCs.
Potency 11
State-mandated by the Florida OMMU for all products sold in Florida MMTCs.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
11 Count
Instrument
LCUV
NOTICE: This is 11 Cannabinoid Potency test mandated by Florida OMMU (Office of Medical Marijuana Use) for all medical cannabis products sold in Florida MMTC's (Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers).
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
Potency 13
∆8-THC and ∆10-THC stacked on top of our standard Potency 11 test.
Potency 13
∆8-THC and ∆10-THC stacked on top of our standard Potency 11 test.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
13 Count
Instrument
LCUV
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
Potency 25
At our last check, the most inclusive cannabinoid potency panel in the U.S.
Potency 25
At our last check, the most inclusive cannabinoid potency panel in the U.S.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
25 Count
Instrument
LCMS
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
HHC Potency
A specialized panel of HHC derivates with a compliance check for ∆9-THC.
HHC Potency
A specialized panel of HHC derivates with a compliance check for ∆9-THC.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
9 Count
Instrument
LCMS
(9R)-HHC
(9S)-HHC
(±)-9ß-hydroxy-HHC
(9R)-HHCP
(9S)-HHCP
∆9-THC
1(R)-H4CBD
1(S)-H4CBD
H2-CBD
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
HHC Metals
A specialized panel of residual process contaminants HHC and HHCP.
HHC Metals
A specialized panel of residual process contaminants HHC and HHCP.
Matrix
Flowers/Plants, Derivative Productss and Edibles
Analytes
8 Count
Instrument
ICPMS
Lead
Palladium
Arsenic
Mercury
Platinum
Cadmium
Nickel
Zinc
NOTICE: These are the white metals that are used to make HHC and HHCP. We recommend testing for these contaminants to ensure clean and safe products for consumption.
Have Samples?
One of our client success consultants would be happy to help you get started!
ACS Cannabinoids Guide
This complete cannabinoid guide covers major and minor cannabinoids, how they work in the body, and highlights the top compounds brands and operators must test for today.
Consumers are demanding more insight
When deciding which cannabis strains best suit your consumer’s needs, it’s vital to consider the cannabinoids present in your products as well as their potency. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that mimic the effects of endocannabinoids, which are naturally produced by the human body. Endocannabinoids interact with the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps us maintain homeostasis. Thus, cannabinoids can be a vital part of human health and determine your product’s therapeutic value.
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Looking for better potency test results?
Cannabinoids occur mostly in the plant resin that’s produced by the structures known as trichomes. Trichomes help protect cannabis from insects, animals, fungi, light contaminators and other environmental attackers. The sticky resin is also rich in terpenes, which are responsible for the plant’s smell, taste and therapeutic effects.
To help influence your plant’s cannabinoid profile, the best method is to select a seed whose genes have the potential to produce the potency you desire. For example, if you live in the mountains, you may select a seed that was specially bred for high-altitude growth. But you may also influence how much resin a plant produces through its micronutrients, temperature exposure, humidity levels, harvest methods and water quality.
Heat, for example, can hinder resin formation, so you may want to keep temperatures as low as possible–especially in the late stages of the plant’s bloom cycle. You also want to pay close attention to trichome color throughout the harvest. When trichomes are clear and translucent, they’re not ready for processing yet. But as you notice the trichomes lose opacity and form an amber hue, you know that the plant has reached optimal levels of cannabinoids.
Legal & scientific drivers for potency testing
As laws continue to change in the U.S., the need for standardized and consistent potency testing is necessary to keep consumers safe from unwanted side effects. For hemp, potency testing is required to prove that it contains less than the maximum limit of THC (0.3%).
Potency testing also allows scientists to research how cannabinoids may work differently based on whether they are contained in flower, oils or topicals. This type of research can enhance the ability to market your product to the targeted customer that could benefit from its effects the most.
It’s also important to understand your product’s potency to meet market demand for high THC or CBD levels. You can also utilize potency results to educate your customers with information they need to determine the proper dose for their specific symptoms. When a product’s cannabinoid profile is transparent and documented, customers can work with their dispensary professional to find the best strain for them.
For example, cannabinoids interact with the body’s ECS by connecting to various endocannabinoid receptors that are present in the brain (known as CB-1 receptors) and throughout the body (CB-2 receptors). Depending on which CB receptor the cannabinoid attaches to, the effects on the body can be significantly different, which can be important if you’re considering a cannabis strain that is needed for pain relief, for instance, as opposed to mood regulation. Cannabis plants can produce anywhere between 80-100 different types of cannabinoids that synergize to make up the therapeutic and cognitive effects of the strain. The two most in-demand cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), but other compounds such as cannabinol (CBN) are also starting to emerge. Customers understand these compounds at a basic level and expect to see potency levels that match their desired effects.
Potency testing with ACS Laboratory
At ACS Laboratory, we currently test flower, edibles, extracts and beverages for 30 different cannabinoids. Refer to the FAQ section below that explains more about each cannabinoid as well as the importance of potency testing
What cannabis and hemp products can ACS test for potency?
How does cannabinoid potency testing confirm label accuracy?
What is included in an HHC potency testing panel?
How do I choose between cannabinoid potency testing panels?
What cannabinoids are included in Florida’s OMMU potency 11 panel?
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