AOAC 133rd Annual Meeting - Final Program

Scientific Sessions | Wednesday

SYMPOSIUM: Cannabis and Cannabis Byproducts—An Update on the State of Industry and Current Challenges 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Grand Ballroom 1 Chairs: Patrick Bird, AOAC Technical Consultant Seth Wong, TEQ Analytical Labs 3:00 PM Basics of Cannabis Products and By-Products Seth Wong, TEQ Analytical Labs Sampling plays a substantial role in the outcome of analytical results. Ensuring that a product is properly handled, prepared, and sampled is paramount to producing reliable analytical data even before any analysis is conducted. In many cases, products are believed to be homogeneous, when in fact they are not, and there is greater heterogeneity than what is visibly evident; appropriate representative sampling is vital for sound analytical analysis of cannabis products. Aside from sampling, a laboratory must also properly validate the analytical method and matrix extraction efficiencies of its methods. Through our experience, TEQ has learned that many laboratories have not considered specific matrix method extraction efficiencies when validating methods, which can lead to skewed data and in some cases, adverse results. In our session, we will discuss the role of method validation and how a laboratory, in partnership with its client, ensures that these avenues have been explored to provide accurate, reliable, and robust analytical results. 3:20 PM Cannabis in Edibles and Other Products 5 Years Later—Lessons Learned and Future Concerns Heather Krug, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment The vast majority of U.S. states and other countries require quality control testing of cannabis and cannabis products prior to release for distribution. The purpose of product testing is to provide patients and consumers with the assurance that the product is accurately labeled, pure, and safe for use. Each juris- diction has its own set of testing requirements and regulations for the analytical laboratories, and its own set of requirements and regulations for cannabis product manufacturing practices. In the end, the general goal is a framework that requires the production and verification of accurately labeled, uncontaminated products. However, the broad spectrum of cannabis product types in combination with these varied requirements results in chal- lenges, and often confusion, for both the regulators and the regulated industry.

1:30 PM Unlocking the Mystery of Pesticides CRM Stability for Food Analysis Joe Konschnik, Landon Wiest, Jason Fisher, Restek Corporation There is a growing global need for pesticide residues testing in a wide variety of food commodities. In response to this need, testing laboratories must develop versatile analytical methods and workflows in order to produce scientifically sound results which ensure the safety of our food. One of the many challenges faced by food chemists is acquiring suitable pesticide certified reference materials (CRMs) to calibrate analytical equipment, monitor method performance, and confirm the identity and concentration of pesticide residues. Questions regarding the stability of pesticide CRMs abound among users and there’s a need to educate and inform the community. CRM producers invest considerable resources to ensure the stability of their prod- ucts. The authors will discuss ISO standard 17034 requirements to properly manufacture, package, and ensure the stability of a pesticides CRM. Proper CRM handling and storage practices in the laboratory will also be presented as guidance to ensure stability. The results of pesticide stability studies will be presented showing what can be expected after ampuls are opened and mixed together for routine use. 2:00 PM Authenticity and Safety; Evaluating the Stability and Homogeneity of In-House Reference Materials Laura Wood, Catherine Rimmer, Melissa Phillips, U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology The safety of foods and botanical products requires accurate testing, including the use of adequate control materials. When adequate controls are not available, an appropriate in-house reference material (RM) is needed. In addition, a laboratory may need to produce an in-house RM to more closely repre- sent routine samples or to lower costs by using in-house RMs in routine analyses. An in-house RM can be complemented by a commercially available Certified Reference Material (CRM), but may have only the necessary chemical properties or analytes required by the laboratory, not all of those contained in the CRM. To produce in-house RMs, a homogeneous, stable material is needed in a large enough supply to make aliquoting and long-term storage worthwhile. For chemical characterization of an in-house RM, target analytes must remain stable during the period of use. Analyte levels in the in-house RM need to be established using different sample preparation techniques, analytical methods, and analysts to reduce bias. After homo- geneity of the material is established, analyte concentration levels, uncertainties, and minimum mass size for analysis can be determined. A CRM can then be used to establish traceability of the new in-house RM and to monitor the RM.

WWW.AOAC.ORG 301.924.7077 29