Potency Testing
Measurement of cannabinoid concentrations for regulatory compliance and product labeling.
Learn MoreMicrobial Screening
Detection of microbial contaminants and harmful bacteria, for product safety and compliance.
What It Is
Microbial Screening
This screening checks cannabis products for organisms that may affect batch suitability, quality control, or compliance. Contamination can be introduced at several points, including cultivation, harvesting, drying, extraction, manufacturing, packaging, storage, or handling.
Risk factors vary by product type. Flower and pre-rolls may be affected by growing conditions, moisture levels, drying, curing, or storage practices. Infused products may require additional review because ingredients, water activity, equipment contact, and post-processing steps can all influence the final sample.
Testing is performed using validated microbiological methods appropriate for the selected panel and sample type. Depending on the required panel and product type, testing may look for bacteria or other regulated organisms.
Common analytes may include:
- Pathogenic Aspergillus species
- Salmonella spp.
- Pathogenic E. coli
- Aflatoxins
- Ochratoxin A
Why It Matters
Laboratory screening helps Missouri operators confirm whether a batch meets applicable requirements before release. It also provides documentation for compliance review, COA generation, and internal quality decisions.
This analysis is important because contamination is not always visible. A product may look, smell, and feel acceptable, but still needs laboratory confirmation before it moves forward. When results are outside expected limits, operators can use the data to review sanitation practices, drying conditions, storage controls, ingredient handling, or production workflows.
The results can help operators:
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Confirm product readiness before release
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Support compliance review and required reporting
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Identify contamination risks before products reach consumers
Products Tested
This testing may be performed on a range of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, including:
- Flower
- Pre-rolls
- Concentrates
- Vape products
- Edibles
- Beverages
- Tinctures
- Topicals
- Other inhalable and non-inhalable cannabis products
Sample preparation may differ depending on the product matrix. Dried flower, for example, is handled differently than a gummy, beverage, oil-based tincture, or topical. During intake, the product type and requested panel are reviewed so the appropriate sample requirements and testing approach can be confirmed.
Includes
- Screening for required organisms based on the selected panel
- Bacteria or pathogen-related analysis, where applicable
- Product-specific sample preparation
- Support for batch review and compliance documentation
- Results that can help identify potential contamination sources during production, storage, or handling
- Compliance-focused reporting
- Results delivered through a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Turnaround Expectations
Turnaround time depends on the product type, requested panel, sample volume, and current laboratory schedule. Some methods require incubation or growth-based steps that cannot be rushed without affecting the integrity of the result.
Because of this, timing may differ from other analytical services, such as potency or terpene profiling. Expected turnaround is provided during sample intake so operators can plan around compliance review, product release, and distribution timelines.
For time-sensitive submissions, contact the lab before sending samples to confirm sample requirements, current timing, and whether expedited scheduling may be available.
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