PerkinElmer Introduces Fully Automated Workflow for Cannabis and Hemp Pesticide Residue Testing
Recently, PerkinElmer, Inc., announced a fully automated liquid handling sample preparation and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis workflow for pesticide residue testing of cannabis and hemp flower samples.
PerkinElmer, Inc., recently launched a fully automated liquid handling sample preparation and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis workflow for pesticide residue testing of cannabis and hemp flower samples (1). This new solution reportedly includes cannabis-optimized reagents and sample prep consumables as well as proprietary cannabis standard operating procedures (SOPs) and cloud-based tracking and reporting software. According to the company’s press release (1), with this workflow, in house and contract laboratories can increase pesticide analysis throughput with improved data quality, decrease laboratory waste, reduce the likelihood of operator error, and slash sample prep times to 2 hours from 6-8 hours when performed manually.
The fully automated liquid handling sample preparation workflow starts with an integrated micro balance that captures and conveys sample ID and weight data. After, a multi-step sample preparation procedure is executed automatically by PerkinElmer’s liquid and sample handling system, the Janus® G3 420 Workstation which conducts sample vortexing, centrifuging, filtering, and diluting. It also includes integrated barcoding and scanning. The new One Pesticide420TM Reagent Kit offers calibration and quality control reagents along with the sample preparation consumables needed for consistent implementation of the new application-dedicated SOPs. Once the sample preparation is complete, the sample is then analyzed on PerkinElmer’s QSight® 420 LC–MS/MS instrument in sync with regulation frameworks, such as California’s meticulous ISO 17025:2017 and the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) pesticide regulation requirements.
Lastly, the full sample traceability and instrument connectivity is delivered with the company’s new cloud-based SimplicityLab420TM software. With this technology, it is able to support easy batch creation and method transfer, regulation-ready reporting, integration with laboratory information management system (LIMS) systems, and remote workflow monitoring.
“On average, cannabis labs perform up to 1000 pesticide analyses per month and 60% of testing time is spent on manual sample preparation,” said Greg Sears, Vice President and General Manager, Food & Organic Mass Spectrometry, PerkinElmer (1). “By bringing together and automating all of the pieces a lab needs to tackle pesticide analysis, our new workflow solution provides a streamlined approach that helps increase productivity, compliance and consumer protection while also saving time and money.”
The innovations in cannabis testing and analysis are part of PerkinElmer’s broader safety and quality solutions for food.
Reference:
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
