Lab Tested Carts: How to Test for Vaping Safety
Vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil offer an easy way for consumers to vaporize concentrated extracts. However, vape carts (as they are often called) need to undergo extra checks and screenings before they reach the consumer.
Much of the worry tied to vape carts can be traced to an outbreak of what was termed “electronic vaping-associated lung illness” (EVALI) in 2019. More than 2,800 cases of EVALI were tracked to illicit vape cartridges that contained Vitamin E acetate. Although the outbreak was among illegal products, it still had a chilling effect on the legal cannabis industry.
In the legal cannabis market, cannabis manufacturers that create vape cartridges and the extract used to fill them are required to submit samples to a third-party laboratory for testing. These products are not only screened for VEA, but for contaminants as well, before the product is authorized to reach consumers.
In this blog, you will learn:
How and why vape carts are tested
What vape carts are tested for
Testing requirements for vape carts in NJ
What are the concerns around vape carts?
In 2019, an experiment conducted by NBC News and cannabis testing company CannaSafe shed light on the prominence of problematic, illicit vape carts. The article explains that reporters purchased 15 vape cartridges from a variety of unlicensed dispensaries. After being tested by CannaSafe, 13 out of 15 samples were found to contain vitamin E acetate. Further, of the 10 samples screened for pesticides, all tested positive for myclobutanil, a fungicide that releases highly toxic gasses when heated. Of the cartridges purchased from licensed dispensaries monitored by legal guidelines, none of these contaminants were found.
It is clear from this small experiment that there is a world of difference between illicit vape carts and those manufactured and tested by state-licensed and reputable agencies before they are made available for sale. However – and understandably so – some consumers may still be wary.
What are vape carts tested for?
Vape carts undergo several tests to ensure the safety of consumers. Especially since the outbreak of EVALI, consumers and regulators alike are hyper-aware of the risks of untested cartridges. As a result, legal cannabis manufacturers are legally required to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their products. Depending on state law, manufacturer requests, or dispensary requests, cannabis analytical laboratories may test for any or all of the following when examining vape carts.
Vape additives
Lipids that are added into vape carts can be dangerous when vaporized and inhaled. When used in products like cannabis oil and concentrates, some added lipid substances have been linked to lung illness. In addition to VEA, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and propylene glycol (PG) are other vape additives to look out for. While these chemicals are widely used and considered safe in topical and ingestible applications, their safety is unknown when it comes to applications that require heating and inhalation.
Contaminants
In legal markets, manufacturers must test for contaminants that could make their way into a vape cartridge at any stage of the supply chain. Among the contaminants that are required for testing in NJ are the following:
Pesticides: It is important that all vape cartridges be tested for such substances prior to hitting the shelves. Because some pesticides release toxic gases when heated, this can be particularly dangerous for inhaled products like vape carts. Some states, like New Jersey, ban the use of pesticides altogether.
Heavy metals: Exposure to heavy metals in vape cartridges can be dangerous and may have serious health effects. Cannabis plants in particular can be contaminated with substances like arsenic and cadmium, contaminants that make their way into a vape cartridge if the cannabis oil inside is extracted from contaminated flower. There is also concern that metal within the cartridge itself can leach into the cannabis oil inside the cartridge, making packaging safety just as important as product safety when it comes to vapes. Many states require heavy metal testing for all cannabis products.
Residual solvents: Cannabis concentrates are commonly made by using solvents like hydrocarbons or ethanol to draw out phytocannabinoids and terpenes. During the refining process, solvents are purged from the extract to create a solvent-free product for consumption. However, it is possible that trace amounts of solvents remain. Checking a sample for residual solvents, therefore, becomes a vital part of the process.
Microbials: Microbes can attack cannabis plants at any time, whether in the cultivation facility or during processing if equipment has been contaminated by previous batches. Some of these microbes can post significant health threats when inhaled or ingested. As a result, most states require licensed manufacturers that test vape carts with an accredited laboratory to guarantee microbials have not contaminated the cannabis oil. Microbial testing is one of the required screenings for vape cart testing in New Jersey.
Mycotoxins: Mycotoxins are among the most dangerous contaminants that may be found in cannabis. Although very rare, these byproducts of microbial growth are linked to kidney and liver damage. Because of the potential for significant health effects, most states require manufacturers to test vape carts for mycotoxins in addition to microbes. This is another one of the contaminants required for vape cart testing in New Jersey.
Phytocannabinoid and terpene profiling
Lab tested carts generally come with complete cannabinoid profiles and terpene content, giving consumers insight into how a particular type of cannabis oil might affect them. Regular compound profiling across batches can also help manufacturers establish consistency of experience, flavor, and aroma -- a must for establishing a branded line of products and earning customer loyalty. Usually, cannabinoid and terpene content will be included on the labeling of a vape cartridge.
How are vape carts tested?
The testing methods cannabis analytical labs rely on require cutting-edge technology and meticulous scientific processes to examine every sample.
Vape additive testing
It is important that labs confirm vape cartridges are devoid of any substances that may be harmful when inhaled. Among these substances include Vitamin E Acetate (VEA). However, not all states require cannabis vape manufacturers to test for VEA and other lipid additives.
Potency testing and profiling
For potency testing and profiling, labs rely on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a UV light detector to gauge the levels of phytocannabinoids present. This approach involves samples solubilized in a liquid solution with a solvent and passing them through a solid matrix packed into a column. The solution coming off of the solid matrix is then analyzed by UV light, allowing testing facilities to quantify and analyze the constituent parts of mixtures.
Residual solvents testing
Residual solvent testing is conducted using a process known as Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). GC/MS separates complex mixtures into constituent parts. The difference is that GC/MS does not require the use of liquid solvents. Instead, it heats compounds until they turn into a gas, which then “flows” through this medium, and hits a mass detector at different times based on different masses.
Pesticide testing
Processes known as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) are used to detect pesticides. With both techniques, a wider and longer list of pesticides are able to be detected.
Microbials and mycotoxins
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and specialized plate readers are used to test cannabis products for microbials. With PCR, segments of DNA are rapidly copied to easily identify them in your instrumentation. This technique is used for identifying microbial contaminants, determining the sex of plants, and checking for viruses.
Some laboratories will use Petrifilms, which are gelatin-like plates used to determine whether specific bacteria or fungi are present within a cannabis sample. While both can be used for microbial testing, Petrifilms allow for some targets to be more easily identified than PCR machines.
Heavy metals testing
Cannabis is an especially bioaccumulative plant, which means it can absorb compounds from its environment. This includes lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. In high enough amounts, these heavy metals can be harmful to consumers.
Labs test for heavy metals using a process called Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS), a technique used to determine the presence of metals in low concentrations. With ICP/MS, samples through plasma and identify constituent elements such as heavy metals via a mass detector.
Is vape cart testing required in New Jersey?
Vape cartridges are required to undergo the following tests in New Jersey:
Microbial screening
Mycotoxin screening
Heavy metal screening
Residual solvent analysis
Pesticides residue analysis
Potency/terpene analysis
Additive screening
Cannabis testing labs can identify these substances and confirm on a certificate of analysis if they are present and in what quantities, and if they fall below the acceptable limits set by state regulators.
Choose lab tested carts you can trust
Purchasing tested vape cartridges from licensed dispensaries gives consumers the peace of mind that they are vaping safely with quality cannabis oil. True Labs for Cannabis goes above and beyond state regulation to provide the information necessary for vape manufacturers to know that their products are safe and compliant. When you need total transparency into what is in your vape carts, True Labs for Cannabis is the New Jersey cannabis industry’s trusted partner.