Recommended Method of Sampling Cannabis Flower
The potency of cannabis can vary dramatically within a batch of cannabis flower (i.e. from bud to bud) and so the quality of testing results depends largely on good sampling methodology. To reduce the potential effect of variability it is necessary to ensure that the composition of a test sample is representative of the whole batch of cannabis and not just the best-looking bud. Anandia Labs suggests the following best-practice procedure to use when preparing a sample for testing:
- If the batch is stored in multiple containers (e.g, buckets, totes, or bags), take one bud (1-2 g) from each container that makes up the batch, taking care to pick from the upper, middle, and lower sections of the different containers. If the batch is all in one container, take multiple one bud samples from the upper, middle and lower sections of the container.
- The suggested minimal sample mass required for potency testing is ~0.2% of the batch size. For example, a 5 kg (11 lbs) batch would need a sample of at least 10 g.
Prepare the final test sample by combining all samples taken from step 1, then label and submit to Anandia Labs for analysis. - In general, 50 g samples of dried bud are necessary for the full suite of ACMPR required tests, but this may vary depending on your specific needs.
Cannabis Extracts / Oils
As cannabis extracts and oils are typically homogeneous, a smaller sample size of approximately 5 g is necessary for most of the required tests, but 25 g is still required for European Pharmacopoeia compendia Salmonella testing. In general, 30 g samples of oils/extracts are required for the full suite of ACMPR required tests.
