Inorganic Ventures has been manufacturing analytical standards since 1985 and in this blog post we’re going to explain what analytical standards are, and why using them for cannabis testing is so important.
What Are Analytical Standards?
An analytical standard is a compound of high purity and known potency that is used as a reference point, or calibration standard, against a specimen of unknown potency. Analytical standards may be certified reference materials (CRMs), and Inorganic Ventures specializes in producing certified reference materials for testing across multiple industries.
These standards are often used in medicinal testing, but can also be used to analyze typical contaminants in food and drinks and recreational products.
Sometimes referred to as custom standards, analytical standards can be customized depending on the testing being carried out. We can create them to meet your exact specifications in terms of elements, concentrate and volume, and in the last 35 years we have developed over 57,000 blends.
Why Do We Use Analytical Standards (And What If We Don’t)?
Analytical standards are used to test for trace impurities, such as heavy metal compounds, to maintain the safety and high quality of products. However, the test results will only be reliable if they are being measured against accurate standards to begin with.
The risk is that cannabis and hemp have the ability to incorporate heavy metals from the soil in which they are grown, should the soil be contaminated. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to accurately test each product that is made from, or includes, cannabis.
The toxic metals include arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury and are often referred to as the ‘Big 4’. It is necessary to ensure each heavy metal only exists within the allowed limits, as the side effects of ingesting high levels can be fatal. This is why we provide these analytical standards to testing companies.
As mentioned, failure to carry out accurate cannabis testing can be serious should high levels of toxic metals exist. The ‘Big 4’ pose serious health risks to the body if consumed in high doses.
Side effects can include:
- Vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Nerve damage
- Change in vision
And additional damage to the central nervous system and organs.
For quality control of cannabis products, a variety of reference standards can be used. These depend on the purpose of the product being tested, and can include standards for hemp, cannabinoids, residual solvents, and pesticides.
What Products Do Inorganic Ventures Offer?
We offer a range of products, and if required, we can manufacture a custom standard to meet your required specifications. For peace of mind, our analytical standards are world class and are certified under our ISO 17034 and ISO 17025 Accreditation Scopes.
Our products fall under the following categories:
- Inhalation Metals Mix
- Impurities Metals Mix
- OMA 2021.03
- FDA EAM 4.7
- ECLS-I-MM-I
We’d be more than happy to help! If you would like any additional information about our products, or to request a custom standard, please get in touch with us via the options on our contact us page.