Third Party Lab Tests for CBD: Why are they Important?

You might have come across the term “third-party testing” when buying or researching about CBD. Third party lab tests for CBD is a chemical analysis or products done by independent labs. These laboratories are not affiliated with the company selling the CBD product under consideration.

These tests are used by retailers in the hemp industry to know the companies and suppliers offering CBD products that have legal levels of 0.3% or less THC. But the third party lab tests for CBD go beyond that. They also test the CBD products for pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metal. Keep reading to discover more about third party lab tests and why they are so crucial.

 A Closer Look at Third-Party CBD Testing

3rd party testing CBD refers to a scenario where CBD companies or traders send samples of their CBD products to independent laboratories for testing. The laboratory, which is not affiliated to the CBD company making the products, seeks to confirm what exactly is contained in the product. They help to answer the following questions?

• What exactly is contained in the CBD product?
• Does the CBD product contain components, as indicated on the packet?
• Does the CBD product have harmful components?

Third party testing has become very important, especially in the health and supplements industry, where product quality and safety cannot be compromised.  Also, it is used in electronics and water filtration niches.

Because 3^rd party testing is done by labs with no affiliation to the CBD product supplier or company, they have no stake in its success. Therefore, they are able to give unbiased and neutral views in the safety and quality of the CBD products under consideration to help protect consumers.

The Importance of CBD Third Party Testing

Third-party testing is crucial, perhaps the most crucial aspect of the fast unfolding CBD industry. Here are the prmary reasons why every CBD product should be tested.

• In order for CBD products to produce the anticipated benefits, they must contain the right quantities of all components. These include CBD as well as other cannabinoids to deliver specific health benefits.
• Because CBD products are derived from cannabis plants, it implies that the danger of THC intoxication always looms. The risk is particulalry high when dealing with low-quality plants.
• Today, most CBD products are sourced from mass-produced marijuana plants. But their production if often accelerated using agrochemicals such as pesticides to control pests. Most of these pesticides and organic chemicals have residual effects and find their way into the human body via CBD products. Third-party CBD testing helps to identify these organic components and establish whether they fall within the recommended safe range.
• Like most dietary supplements, the regulation for CBD products is not strong. Indeed, it is only in 2018 that the regulations were introduced. Therefore, third party testing comes in handy to ensure that consumers are properly protected.
• In 2018, the passing of the 2018 hemp bill and marijuana legislation in many states and multiple countries have seen prompt growth of CBD companies. Although the increasing list of CBD companies is a positive thing because it provides clients with more options, there is a danger from those stocking products from brands that are simply interested in raking quick cash. For example, a company can sell products made from the oil of hemp seeds, which contain no canabinoids, but claim it has CBD. Such brands do not care about quality or safety. This is why you need third party CBD testing.
• The process of producing CBD products is complex. But, you will realize that rarely do companies involved in producing CBD products give the right information about the procedures.

The fact is that there isn’t much that can prevent companies from selling products that are below par. Often, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sends warnings to companies that have CBD levels below what they advertize. In 2019, about 20 companies received warning letters from FDA.

In one of the studies done in the UK, only 38% of the 29 CBD oils tested had the CBD content within the 10% of the advertized range. Another 38% had 50% less of what was advertized. Notably, one of the CBD oil has no CBD at all!

From these facts, 3^rd party testing remains the best way of ensuring that the CBD product or CBD oil is of high quality, safe, and effective. Therefore, consider working with a top-rated third party hemp testing firm.

What are the Main Types of Third-Party CBD Tests?

There are four main types of 3^rd party testing done on CBD products: cannabinoid profile, heavy metals, pesticides, bio-contaminants organic solvents.

• Cannabinoid Profile

This testing is also referred to s potency testing that assesses the quantities of cannabinoids in a CBD product. It is the most important test because it helps to prove that a CBD product contains the levels of CBD indicated on the labels. For example, if a seller claims he is selling THC free product, the cannabinoid profile will be able to ascertain that. Notably, some companies only do this test alone.

The best Cannabinoid Potency tests analyze about 15 cannabinoids so that you can have a clear picture of what a product contains. Some of them include cannabinoids CBD, THCA, CBC, THCV, CBN, Δ-9 THC, Δ-8 THC, and CBDV.

• Pesticides

In addition to cannabinoid profile, 3rd party lab testing CBD further looks for pesticides. It is well documented that most farms growing cannabis plants use pesticides to accelerate growth and reduce damage from insects. Some of the pesticides tested include:

• Diaminozide: This is a common pesticide used by companies growing cannabis in greenhouses. It is a dangerous component that has been associated with cancer.
• Bifenazate: This is another common component in most fungicides. When taken in high levels, bifenazate has mutagenic impacts.
• Cyfluthrin: Like, bofenazate, cyfluthrin is a common ingredient in many insecticides. If you sell products with cyfluthrin, your customers are likely to suffer from problems such as migraines, vomiting, and nausea. It has also been associated with worsening asthma.
• Terpene Profiles

Terpenes are minute and volatile compounds that are common in most plants. They are responsible for giving the CBD products a unique smell of cannabis plants. Notably, most benefits of cannabis plants are dependent on terpenes. For example, some terpenes help to increase CBD absorption while others have individual advantages such as sedative, anti-nausea, and muscle relaxant impacts of CBD oil.

Your third party lab tested CBD will show terpenes if it was made from full-spectrum extracts. In most manufacturing processes, terpenes are isolated to give CBD products specific characteristics. Therefore, your CBD product will only be tested for terpenes if it was created from full-spectrum extracts.

• Oragnic Solvents

Organic solvents are common liquids used in the extraction process. Some of the solvents used in CBD extraction include propane, ethanol, acetone, and isobutene. However, it is important to note that solvent extraction is being abandoned for more advanced methods.

New technologies such as supercritical CO2 are preferred because it is more effective and safer. Therefore, organic solvent tests will only be necessary if your CBD company uses solvents at the extraction stage.

• Heavy Metals

Notably, cannabis has been demonstrated to be a bio-accumulator. While this attribute is good because the plant can easily pull nutrients from the soil for faster growth, it also comes with serious risks. If there are heavy compounds in the soil, the plant will also accumulate them. If your customers use CBD products with heavy metals, they risk suffering from inflammation and severe cell structure damage.

• Bio Contaminants

In most 3rd party CBD lab testing companies, the bio-contaminants test is the last check. This involves checking for contaminants such as fungi, molds, and bacteria that might have entered the plant material. If your CBD company makes its products from contaminated help plant, the risk of bio-contaminants is very high.

Most bio-contaminants are associated with allergic reactions and direct harm to users. It is paramount that every CBD product you stock is free from these contaminants. Most third party tests will look for the following heavy metals:

• Lead
• Arsenic
• Cadmium
• Mercury

How 3rd Party Lab Testing CBD Works

When looking for a third party lab testing firm, it is important to understand the processes they follow to test different CBD products. Notably, there are no regulations that define how a company should test different components in a CBD product. To ensure that you get the right results, the best third party CBD testing firms use the latest technologies. Here are some of them:

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): This is the standard method that is used by most third party CBD testing companies out there. During the process, your sample is dissolved in a solvent such as ethanol. Then, it is added into long tubes where pressure is increased. The effect is the separation of individual components in the CBD to separate based on weight. Lighter molecules float while the heavier ones float. For example, CBD and THC have varying densities.

As different compounds exit the tube, their quantities are evaluated and calculated on the basis of the entire product. With this technology, it is possible to tell the presence and exact quantities of each component in a CBD product.

• Mass Spectronomy (MS) Test: MS test is another highly effective method of testing CBD product components. The method is mainly used for identifying heavy metal contaminants. However, it can also be used to generate the cannabinoid profiles of CBD products.

To use MS testing, the CBD sample is ionized. Then, it is taken via different electromagnetic fields that help separate components of the CBD product. Finally, the quantities of individual components are captured on a graph.

• Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR Testing): PCR is another common method of testing used by 3rd party CBD lab testing companies. It is mainly preferred for testing bio-contaminants. PCR analyzes DNA strands in CBD samples and matches them with already known patterns of fungal, bacterial, or protozoal microorganisms. Depending on the species that show up from the testing, third-party labs can easily determine the quantities in a sample. This process is fast and efficient.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) Testing: In NMR testing, your CBD product (sample) is tested using radio waves. It put in a magnetic field before being subjected to varying radio waves. Because components in CBD respond differently to varying radio waves, NMR testing makes it possible to determine their presence as well as quantities. Although NRM test can be completed faster than HPLC, the latter is more accurate.

How Do You Select Reputable 3rd Party CBD Testing in Michigan?

As we highlighted earlier, 3rd party lab testing is not a legal requirement in Michigan, and indeed, the entire US. But you should order for the tests to ensure that your products are safe and effective. This will not just boost your company’s brand, but the satisfaction of knowing that clients are getting the best is worth the effort. So how do you know the right third party testing firm to contract?

The primary focus should be identifying a third party testing lab that has cut a name for providing correct results.

At SantéLabs, our mission is built on transparency and trust – we tell it as it is! When our lab tests show different results compared to what is in the label, that is what we report.

Further, we simplify the results for you so that you can easily understand and make the right decision. For example, when you see “ND” in our report, it indicates that that specific component was not detected. Others include NT’ and ‘N/A,’ which ‘indicate that a test was not run.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/warning-letters-and-test-results-cannabidiol-related-products