Potency Testing
Measurement of cannabinoid concentrations for regulatory compliance and product labeling.
Learn MorePesticide Analysis
Screening for pesticide residues across regulated analyte panels.
What It Is
Pesticide Analysis
No cannabis product can legally move through Missouri's regulated supply chain without a passing pesticide result. That requirement applies to every lot of flower, every extracted product, and every infused item before it reaches a dispensary, and it applies regardless of what the input material tested at an earlier stage.
The panel screens for residues from 13 agricultural chemicals regulated under state compliance requirements, quantified at parts-per-billion concentrations. The outcome is either a compliant Certificate of Analysis that keeps the product moving, or a documented finding that gives operators the data needed to identify the source and act on it.
Cannabis absorbs what it is exposed to during cultivation more readily than most crops, and when plant material is inhaled or vaporized, certain residues carry consequences that ingestion-based risk models do not fully account for. Understanding what the panel tests for, and why those specific compounds are on it, is relevant to every licensed operator in the supply chain.
The 13-Compound Panel
- Fungicides: Myclobutanil, Azoxystrobin, Tebuconazole, Imazalil
- Miticides: Spirotetramat, Spiromesifen, Etoxazole, Bifenazate, Abamectin
- Insecticides: Imidacloprid, Malathion, Permethrins, Spinosad
The Method Behind the Screen: How the Analysis Works
Pesticide residues in cannabis are present at trace levels, often in the parts-per-billion range. Accurate detection requires a method with both the sensitivity to find them and the specificity to confirm what they are. Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provides both.
A prepared extract of the sample is separated through a liquid chromatography column, then passed through two mass spectrometry stages in sequence. The first stage isolates compounds by their mass-to-charge ratio; the second fragments those compounds and measures the resulting ions. This two-stage process produces a specific chemical signature for each analyte. The panel covers 13 compounds spanning fungicides, miticides, and insecticides, with action limits calibrated to state regulatory thresholds for each product type.
The Method Behind the Screen: How the Analysis Works
Why Inhalation Changes the Calculation
For most food crops, pesticide residues are assessed through the lens of ingestion. The digestive system provides metabolic processing; regulatory thresholds reflect that. Cannabis flower is inhaled directly, and concentrates and vape oils are vaporized. Neither route involves that processing, and two compounds on the required panel are particularly relevant here.
Myclobutanil, a fungicide widely used in horticulture, undergoes thermal decomposition at temperatures reached during cannabis combustion and vaporization. One of its breakdown products is hydrogen cyanide gas. Permethrins, a synthetic insecticide class, are associated with liver and nervous system effects with repeated or prolonged exposure. Both are included on the required screening panel for these reasons.
The Concentration Effect in Extracted Products
Extraction concentrates both the target compounds and any contaminants present in the raw plant material. Residues within acceptable limits in flowers can exceed action limits in a concentrate or oil. A passing result on a flower does not confirm a passing result on the product made from it, which is why state regulations require the extracted product to be screened independently.
Accuracy, Traceability, and Production Planning
Trumo Analytics applies calibrated reference standards and internal quality controls at each stage of analysis to ensure the data issued accurately reflects the sample submitted. Each analyte is quantified individually against its verified standard, and all findings are reviewed before the Certificate of Analysis is issued.
When a sample does not pass, accurate quantification data helps trace the issue to its origin, whether a specific input, an equipment surface, or a supplier. Turnaround within 5 business days of intake is designed to keep compliance testing integrated into production scheduling rather than sitting outside it. A failed result that triggers a product hold or a reporting obligation is easier to manage with a documented testing record already in place.
When a Sample Fails
A result above an action limit does not automatically mean the product is destroyed. Depending on the compound, the concentration, the product type, and applicable state regulations, options may include additional review, targeted remediation where permitted, or other corrective action determined in consultation with the relevant regulatory authority.
What it does mean is that the batch cannot move forward until the situation is resolved. Having accurate quantification data at the point of failure makes that process more manageable. Knowing which compound exceeded its limit, and by how much, narrows the investigation to specific inputs, equipment, or handling practices rather than requiring a broad operational review.
Trumo Analytics issues concentration values for all 13 analytes on every panel, not just pass/fail indicators. That data is available immediately when a result needs to be reviewed, reported, or acted on.
What Every Panel Delivers
Each submission includes the following as part of the Certificate of Analysis:
- 13-compound compliance panel covering fungicides, miticides, and insecticides
- Quantification with individual action limit comparison for each analyte
- Pass/fail compliance determination per state regulatory thresholds
- Concentration values for all 13 analytes
- COA formatted for regulatory submission
Products We Screen
Pesticide screening is required across all major cannabis product categories in Missouri. The risk profile and action limits differ by product type, reflecting the route of consumption and how each form is processed.
- Flower: the starting point for the entire supply chain. Whatever residues are present in harvested flower are present in everything made from it. Screening at this stage is the first compliance gate before any product can move forward.
- Pre-Rolls: often produced from multiple flower sources blended together. Combining material from different lots can affect the overall residue profile, making independent screening of the finished product necessary rather than relying on individual lot results.
- Concentrates: wax, shatter, rosin, distillate, and other extracted forms carry the highest risk of residue amplification. The extraction process concentrates both cannabinoids and contaminants, and a product that passes at the flower stage can still fail once processed. State regulations require independent screening of the extracted form.
- Vape Products: cartridge oils are vaporized directly into the lungs at controlled temperatures. Certain residues, including Myclobutanil, undergo chemical changes at vaporization temperatures that do not occur during ingestion. Screening the finished oil confirms what is actually being delivered to the consumer.
- Edibles: infused products use cannabis extracts as an input, carrying residues from that material into the final form. While the ingestion route differs from inhalation, state regulated limits still apply, and the extraction step can concentrate residues before they are incorporated into the product.
From Sample Intake to Certificate
Pesticide screening is completed as part of standard sample processing. The Certificate of Analysis is typically delivered within 5 business days of sample intake. Expedited scheduling is available; contact the lab directly to discuss options for time-sensitive submissions.
*All testing is performed using validated analytical methods and quality control procedures in accordance with laboratory standards.
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