Quality assurance / quality control in cannabis products analysis

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60461373%3A22330%2F20%3A43921587" target="_blank" >RIV/60461373:22330/20:43921587 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

—

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Quality assurance / quality control in cannabis products analysis

Original language description

AIM The cannabis and products thereof have long time stated apart from the official control and regulation. As cannabidiol (CBD), the main cannabis component believed to be associated with health benefits, has recently been approved in a number of countries worldwide, the remarkable amount of various cannabis-based products has been placed on the market. This situation raised an urgent demand for quality and correct potency control of cannabis products and resulted in a number of laboratories providing such services. However, the inter-laboratory variability in results is often fairly large. This is mainly due to the high complexity and variability of the cannabis matrix, use of analytical methodologies not always suitable for the purpose and not properly validated, together with the lack of tools for analytical quality assurance and control (QA/QC), and standardization. Currently, neither the certified matrix reference materials (CRM) as important QA/QC tools, nor the proficiency tests (PT) for external quality assessment of generated data are available in Europe, and those provided by US seem to be rather disputable. We present here the experience with matrix CRM and PT organized this year for cannabis potency by US provider, and our approach employed for cannabis-based matrix reference material preparation. MATERIAL AND METHODS The matrix CRM (oil) and PT (hemp bud) for phytocannabinoids analysis were ordered from US provider. The material was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of 17 phytocannabinoids. As an internal reference material, cannabis flowers and full spectrum CBD oil were prepared at various levels of target phytocannabinoids. Both the homogeneity and stability of the reference materials have been controlled by the above-mentioned method. CONCLUSIONS We highlight the importance of the propriate tools for QA/QC in the analysis of cannabis products and propose an approach for preparation of reliable materials with potential to be used as matrix CRM and for PT organization. Without strict adhering on QA/QC principles, not only in phytocannabinoids analysis, but also in the control of possible contaminants, the poor reliability of generated laboratory data may increase the risk of placing hazardous cannabis products on a global market.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10406 - Analytical chemistry

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2020

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů