3:30 PM - Residual Solvent Testing - Mitigating Laboratory Contamination & 5 Minute Q&A
Analyzing for residual solvents using full evaporation technique (FET) provides laboratories with a simple, economical, and efficient way to analyze cannabis and hemp samples for this specific class of contaminant. However, there are still hurdles that are encountered during routine analysis, such as laboratory contamination. This presentation will provide insight into techniques that can be utilized to eliminate this contamination such as seclusion of the instrumentation, isolation of the ventilation system, and sample storage techniques. Additionally, a new technique involving the use of ultra-high purity nitrogen is introduced, which will remove contaminants from the atmosphere within the headspace vial while preventing the degradation of any solvents that may be present in the samples. 

3:55 PM - Terpene Testing - Tips, Tricks, and Backflushing & 5 Minute Q&A
Analyzing for terpenes in cannabis and hemp samples is an important part of obtaining the full picture regarding the composition of the plant. As such, laboratories need instrumentation, methodology, and consumables that will allow them to process samples efficiently with high amounts of accuracy. This presentation will review tips and tricks that laboratories can use when conducting terpene testing. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the use of the backflush feature that is available for Agilent GC systems and how that can benefit the workflow for terpene testing.

4:20 PM - Input Testing - Ensuring Product Quality for Producers and Growers & 5 Minute Q&A
Cannabis is a bio-accumulator plant, meaning anything it is exposed to, good or bad, will be absorbed into the plant over its lifecycle. As such, producers and growers must ensure that dangerous contaminants are not being added to a plant unknowingly. One of the best ways to do this is through input testing, which will ensure that contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides are not present in the soil, growth media, nutrients, or other additives that the plants are being exposed to. While this type of testing is not required, it is a testing service that laboratories can offer. This presentation will outline some of the various testing techniques that can be utilized for input testing and why laboratories should be offering this service to their clients. Additionally, the presentation will discuss ways that growers and cultivators can create an input testing program that will be effective at identifying potential contamination sources before exposure occurs. 

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM - Understanding the Struggles Laboratories Face in the Cannabis Testing Market
Join us for an enlightening discussion focusing on the cannabis testing hurdles that both reputable laboratories and quality-focused operators face. Experts from well-respected laboratories across the United States will participate in this panel discussion where we will address two of the major problems plaguing the cannabis testing market: lab shopping and data manipulation. Throughout the panel, we will explore effective strategies to mitigate these challenges and uphold industry integrity.