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The Difference Between Third-Party Cannabis Testing and Having Your Own Lab

And How to Get Your Own Cannabis Lab Testing Equipment from Elite Robotics

In the cannabis industry, there is nothing more important to the growing and cultivating process than testing. By testing cannabis crops, growers and cultivators can monitor the cannabinoids in their crop, purity levels, and any unwanted contaminants and mycotoxins.

Cannabis lab testing is also a legal requirement. In order for a cannabis product to be cleared for legal distribution and sale, the cannabis sample must get cleared by a state accredited lab. In the case of hemp products, they cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC per the Farm Bill. Anything above 0.3 percent must be legally destroyed at the grower’s expense.

Growers and cultivators don’t want to waste crops or harvest a product that’s not at peak purity levels, so cannabis lab testing is a critical part of the process. However, it’s not without its drawbacks.

The Challenges of Third-Party Cannabis Lab Testing

Perhaps the biggest challenge with third-party cannabis lab testing facilities is that they typically have a large backlog of testing samples to get through. Obviously, some testing facilities are faster than others, but it’s been known to take weeks to get lab results back in some cases. During that wait time, cannabis crops can quickly mature, thus, making the sample sent off out of date.

Another challenge with third-party cannabis lab testing is running a cannabinoid analysis test or THC potency test that may utilize chemicals or solvents that are harmful to the environment. The two main ones that cannabis testing labs use are methanol and acetonitrile. Considering that the testing process is not environmentally safe and the need for testing is increasing due to the boom of the cannabis industry, this is not a model that’s going to be sustainable.

Finally, growers and cultivators incur a fee every time they need to run a cannabinoid analysis test or THC potency test. Those fees add up over time, eating into the bottom line.

Owning Your Own Lab and How it Compares to Third-Party Cannabis Lab Testing

With the growth and expansion of the cannabis industry over the past couple decades, growers and cultivators have looked for an alternative to third-party cannabis lab testing to make the testing process less expensive, more streamlined, and environmentally friendly. Fortunately, that alternative now exists with in-house cannabis testing labs. Cannabis industry professionals can now run a cannabinoid analysis test and THC potency test using cannabinoid testing equipment that’s affordable, accurate, and easy to use.

In-house cannabis lab testing equipment can be used to check purity and potency levels, analyze cannabinoids, and detect contaminants and impurities. Using a containment device, growers and cultivators can collect and hermetically seal cannabis samples until they’re ready to be analyzed. Once they’re placed in the analyzer, it will provide the results of the cannabinoid analysis test along with other key attributes. The equipment is very easy to use – no engineering of chemistry degree required.

The main differences between in-house testing and third-party testing are:

  • No longer having to wait on a third-party lab to send back results
  • No longer incurring testing fees
  • No longer using harsh chemicals to test the product
  • Gaining self-empowerment by having your own lab

The only drawback with in-house cannabis lab testing is that it’s not deemed as official in the eyes of the state. The lab must be state accredited for the sample to be officially cleared. However, in-house labs allow growers and cultivators to determine for themselves when to send off that final official sample. Rather than going through several rounds of state accredited lab testing, growers and cultivators with an in-house lab will only need to go through one.

Bring Cannabis Lab Testing In-House with Elite Robotics

For growers and cultivators who need to be able to perform a cannabinoid analysis test and THC potency test using a safe process with reliable results – Elite Robotics can help. Our Cannabots product line features two products that will allow you to bring cannabis lab testing in-house. Our specimen containment device stores your samples until it can be put in our analyzer device to measure purity and potency.

Once you have cannabinoid testing equipment in the palm of your hand, you’ll save tons of time and money by becoming less reliant on third-party labs. That means you can add that back to your bottom line and feel good about using cannabis lab testing equipment that’s eco-friendly.

Learn more about our cannabis testing equipment or become an investor by contacting Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or send us a message directly using our contact form.