How Do Professional Labs Measure CBD Potency?
Posted by USA Lab Equipment on Apr 7th 2022
If you’re interested in pursuing CBD products or testing them, you might be wondering, “how do professional labs measure CBD potency?” CBD testing is a crucial step in the CBD manufacturing and sales process. Testing helps ensure quality products and keep customers safe. If you’re curious about getting into CBD testing, find out how professional labs test CBD potency and why.
What Do Labs Test For?
Professional, third-party laboratories test CBD mainly for its cannabinoid content, amongst other measurements. Because there are different forms and strengths of CBD products, it’s important for the consumer to know that the product they’re getting lives up to its claims. Third-party laboratories help decide the quality of CBD products by measuring their CBD and THC content, which helps determine which CBD category it falls into: full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate. Laboratories also test terpene content and other factors that can affect the quality of the CBD product.
High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
HPLC is the most common technique that laboratories use for testing CBD. During the HPLC process, scientists take the CBD sample and mix it with a solvent such as ethanol. This solution goes through a sorting process that attracts molecules from the sample based on chemical properties. This sorting process helps scientists detect the distinct levels of each cannabinoid through its molecules.
Another process that scientists use for CBD testing is distillation. Distillation is different from chromatography because it utilizes different boiling points between solvents and samples. Distillation is a great method for many third-party CBD laboratories because the materials are easily accessible.
Why CBD Testing Is Important
CBD products are on the rise in popularity in the current market. This creates opportunities for companies to get by selling low-quality CBD products to their customers. CBD companies who utilize testing for their products can ensure customers that their products are exactly what they claim to be. Customers will know what type of products they are paying for, backed by reputable laboratory studies.
We hope this brief explanation helps you understand how professional labs measure CBD potency and why testing is so important. If you’re interested in pursuing CBD testing in your own laboratory, you can find a broad selection of lab distillation equipment for sale right here at USA Lab Equipment.