How To Test Homogeneity in Cannabis
Homogeneity testing is a critical part of the cannabis industry, ensuring that samples of marijuana-infused products (MIPs) contain the amount of active compounds per serving that is indicated on the package. Homogeneous products are a mark of product consistency, so cannabis manufacturers everywhere should be concerned with the results of their cannabis homogeneity tests. This guide explains how cannabis analysis labs test for homogeneity and why it is important.
In this blog, you will learn:
What homogeneity is
Why homogeneity matters for cannabis products
How cannabis analysis labs test for homogeneity
What is homogeneity?
Homogeneity refers to the uniformity of a substance; when compounds are evenly distributed throughout the structure of the substance, it is said to be homogenous. The opposite of homogeneity is heterogeneity. To be heterogeneous means that a substance is not uniform throughout and that some parts might contain more or less of any given compound.
Why does homogeneity matter for infused cannabis products?
Homogeneity is especially important for MIPs, products like edibles, gummies, and lozenges that have been infused with a cannabinoid and/or terpene-rich extract. When MIPs are homogeneous, they deliver consistent consumption experiences and flavors. When MIPs are heterogeneous, on the other hand, it is impossible to predict effects, flavors, or aromas from one bite to the next.
A lack of homogeneity in an MIP can make for an unpleasant consumer experience and have deep ramifications for a brand building its reputation in both nascent and mature cannabis markets. It is also detrimental to medical cannabis patients and educated consumers who rely on precise amounts to effectively address any symptoms or side effects they may be experiencing.
For example, take a cannabis-infused chocolate bar containing 50 mg of THC, divided into 10 equal-sized servings. A homogeneous chocolate bar will contain equal amounts of phytocannabinoids and terpenes in the same proportions in each serving, so it should contain 5mg of THC per serving. This also applies to other phytocannabinoids and terpenes in the product; each serving should have the same set of compounds as the next. Producers are aiming for a homogeneous chocolate bar that will provide consumers with a consistent consumption experience.
If the chocolate bar was heterogeneous, each serving could have very different levels of cannabinoids and terpenes. If the chocolate bar still contained 50mg of THC but was heterogeneous, one serving may contain 1mg THC while the next may contain 10mg THC. Heterogeneity in MIPs makes it impossible for consumers to gauge their experience from one serving to the next, let alone from one chocolate bar to the next.
For cannabis manufacturers, providing a consistent experience, flavor, and aroma by ensuring that cannabinoids and terpenes are evenly distributed in the same manner throughout every batch of products is key to cultivating repeat customers. For consumers, homogeneity testing confirms that they can trust each serving will provide the same effects they need, every time.
How do cannabis analysis labs test for homogeneity?
Homogeneity is determined through a process called “redundant potency testing.” This term simply refers to repetitive cannabinoid and terpene profiling tests (also known as potency tests for THC, CBD, and other compounds) separately in multiple different representative samples. Analysts then compare the results of these redundant potency tests in each sample to confirm that, time and again, the products exhibit similar compound profiles.
How is potency testing performed?
Potency testing can be performed using two main methods, depending on what types of compounds analysts are attempting to identify and quantify.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography
In HPLC, samples are placed in a liquid solution with a solvent. Once dissolved in the liquid, the sample is passed over a solid matrix packed into a column. Different compounds emerge from the matrix at different speeds, enabling analysts to identify and measure the constituent parts of the mixture.
HPLC is considered the most up-to-date and precise method for gauging phytocannabinoid potency. However, when testing more volatile compounds, analysts must employ other methods that better preserve those volatile compounds.
Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
This method is particularly useful when measuring the potency of terpenes rather than phytocannabinoids. This is because terpenes are volatile organic compounds that evaporate quickly, making them more suitable for observation as a gas than a liquid.
Like liquid chromatography, the purpose of GC/MS is to separate a complex mixture into its constituent parts so they may be measured. However, instead of dissolving the sample into a liquid mixture, analysts heat compounds until they turn into a gas. These gaseous compounds are then carried in an inert gas through a thin layer of solid or viscous liquid particles. The gaseous compounds each flow differently through this medium and hit a mass detector at different times, allowing analysts to identify and quantify each compound.
Repeating these processes against multiple samples can give analysts an understanding of the homogeneity of the broader batch. For cannabis manufacturers, this invaluable information enables the development of branded cannabis formulations that offer consistent, repeatable consumption experiences.
Cannabis homogeneity testing in New Jersey
Because New Jersey has yet to allow edible cannabis products (MIPs) in its program, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) has not defined a requirement for a specific homogeneity test to be performed. That being said, analytical testing labs in New Jersey must still homogenize product samples for purposes of preparing a representative sample of each product and/or batch for the various analytical tests.
When New Jersey cannabis manufacturers are in need of homogeneity testing results that their customers can rely on, True Labs for Cannabis is the top choice for New Jersey manufacturers. With reliable and expedient results that can help you clear regulatory hurdles and demonstrate to the whole market the quality of your products, True Labs for Cannabis is the ideal partner for cannabis manufacturers in New Jersey’s cannabis market.