Test Benefits

For businesses processing raw plant material, diligent hemp microbiology testing is essential for regulatory compliance and brand protection. A single contaminated batch leads to product recalls, legal liability, and irreparable damage to your reputation. By implementing stringent cannabis microbiology testing protocols, you verify that your products are free from harmful pathogens before they reach the market. This commitment to safety satisfies state requirements and builds necessary trust with distributors and consumers, ultimately reinforcing your position as a reliable and responsible operator

Test Benefits

Pesticide Limits By State

Each state maintains their own action levels for microbial analysis. Below are the DCC and the AZDHS action limits for microbials.

 

In California and Arizona, the governing bodies require that 6 specific analytes be tested, with each state allowing different levels of each to be detected.

Category I Residual Pesticides Action Level (Inhalable) μg/g Action Level (Non-Inhalable) μg/g
Escherichia coli (STEC) Not Detected
Salmonella spp. Not Detected
Aspergillus flavus Not Detected
Aspergillus fumigatus Not Detected
Aspergillus niger Not Detected
Aspergillus terreus Not Detected
Category II Residual Pesticides Action Level (Inhalable) μg/g Action Level (Non-Inhalable) μg/g
Pesticides, Fungicides, Growth Regulators Allowable Limit (ppm)
Escherichia coli 10 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/g (edibles); 100 CFU/g (all others)
Salmonella spp. Detectable in 1g
Aspergillus flavus Detectable in 1g (inhalable)
Aspergillus fumigatus Detectable in 1g (inhalable)
Aspergillus niger Detectable in 1g (inhalable)
Aspergillus terreus Detectable in 1g (inhalable)

What We Test For

Regulation

Microbial Impurities Testing

  1. The laboratory shall analyzes a sample of cannabis or cannabis product to determine whether microbial impurities are present.

  2. The laboratory reports the result of the microbial impurities testing by indicating “pass” or “fail” on the COA.

  3. Depending on the type of product being analyzed, the following conditions may be tested and reported by the lab:

    1. The detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia Coli in one gram of sample;
    2. The detection of Salmonella spp. in one gram of sample; and
    3. The detection of Pathogenic Aspergillus species A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, and A. terreus in one gram of sample.
  4. If a sample fails microbial impurities testing, the batch from which the sample was collected fails microbial impurities testing and canot be released for retail sale.

Method

Probe-based Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR).