As a cannabis grower or manufacturer, you are always looking for the best ways to ensure your products meet the highest standards of quality and safety. Your care for and dedication to producing a high-quality product does not end with the growing and harvesting cycles or manufacturing processes. Before you send off your samples for testing, it’s crucial to understand how to properly store and handle them to maintain their integrity and accuracy.
In this blog article, we will dive into some tips to ensure your cannabis samples arrive at the lab in optimal condition. Cannabis growers and manufacturers should employ various methods to store their cannabis properly and securely, ensuring its quality and integrity are preserved.
Follow these 5 Storage and Handling Protocols to ensure your samples remain at their highest quality:
1. Maintain Proper Temperature
Temperature control is essential for preserving the integrity of your cannabis samples. Extreme temperatures can degrade cannabinoids and other compounds, leading to inaccurate test results. The proper temperature for storing cannabis before sending samples to the lab typically falls within a range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 21 degrees Celsius). This temperature range helps preserve the potency, flavor, and overall quality of the cannabis while minimizing the risk of mold, mildew, and degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes.
The 7 most effective ways to maintain samples at the proper temperature and keep your samples at premium quality prior to delivering them to a certified lab for testing are:
1. Store cannabis samples in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Avoid storing samples in areas prone to temperature fluctuations, such as near windows, heaters, or appliances that generate heat.
2. Invest in temperature-controlled storage solutions such as refrigerators or climate-controlled rooms. These systems allow you to maintain a consistent temperature within the optimal range for storing cannabis samples.
3. Regularly monitor the temperature of the storage area using a thermometer to ensure it remains within the recommended range. Make adjustments as needed to maintain stable temperatures.
4. While cold temperatures can help slow down degradation, freezing cannabis samples can damage the delicate trichomes and affect the overall quality of the product. Avoid freezing cannabis samples unless absolutely necessary.
5. Store cannabis samples in airtight containers to help regulate temperature and humidity levels. Airtight containers also help prevent exposure to oxygen, which can degrade cannabinoids and terpenes over time.
6. Ensure adequate air circulation in the storage area to prevent the buildup of moisture and humidity, which can lead to mold and mildew growth. Use fans or ventilation systems to promote airflow if necessary.
7. While not directly related to temperature, controlling humidity levels is also important for preserving cannabis samples. Aim for a relative humidity level of 55% to 62% to prevent mold growth and maintain optimal moisture content in the cannabis.
By following these tips and maintaining the proper temperature range, you can ensure that your cannabis samples remain fresh, potent, and intact before sending them to the lab for testing. Proper storage practices play a crucial role in preserving the quality and integrity of the samples, ultimately leading to accurate test results and reliable data.
2. Use Proper Packaging
When packaging your cannabis samples for transport, opt for containers that are sturdy, airtight, and moisture-resistant. This helps prevent contamination and ensures the samples remain intact during transit. Samples must be properly sealed and labeled before being sent for testing.
3. Minimize Handling
Handling cannabis samples should be kept to a minimum to reduce the risk of contamination. When collecting samples from your cultivation facility or production facility, use clean, sanitized tools and gloves to prevent cross-contamination. Once the samples are packaged and sealed, avoid unnecessary handling to maintain their integrity.
4. Label Clearly and Accurately
Proper labeling is crucial for traceability and documentation. Make sure to label each sample accurately, including essential information such as the strain name, batch or lot number, harvest date, and any other relevant identifiers. This ensures that the samples are properly identified and tracked throughout the testing process.
5. Keep it Secure & Follow Lab Guidelines
When it comes to storing and securing your cannabis samples before delivery to the testing lab, and transporting cannabis samples, compliance is key. It is essential to work with your specific lab and follow their specific guidelines and protocols.
California DCC Regulations for Cannabis Transportation
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has established specific regulations regarding the transportation of cannabis samples for regulatory and compliance testing. These regulations are designed to ensure the safety, integrity, and traceability of cannabis products throughout the testing process. Here are 7 key regulations outlined by the DCC:
1. Secure Transportation: Cannabis samples must be transported securely in accordance with DCC regulations. This includes using vehicles equipped with secure compartments or lockable containers to prevent unauthorized access to the samples during transport.
2. Storage Requirements: Cannabis samples must be stored and transported in a manner that prevents contamination, degradation, or tampering. Samples should be securely sealed and labeled to ensure traceability and documentation throughout the transportation process.
3. Chain of Custody: Maintaining a chain of custody is essential for tracking the movement of cannabis samples from the point of collection to the testing laboratory. This involves documenting each transfer of custody and ensuring that samples are handled and transported by authorized personnel only.
4. Compliance Sampling: Compliance samples, which are samples collected for regulatory testing purposes to ensure compliance with state regulations, must be transported and delivered to the testing laboratory by designated personnel, such as lab samplers or drivers employed by the testing facility.
5. Sampling Procedures: Compliance samples may only be sampled by authorized personnel, such as lab samplers trained and certified in proper sampling techniques. These personnel are responsible for collecting samples in a manner that maintains the integrity and representativeness of the sample for testing.
6. Non-Compliance Samples: Samples that are not collected for regulatory testing purposes, such as research or quality control samples, may be transported by the client or delivered to the testing laboratory by the client or authorized personnel.
7. Documentation and Record-keeping: Detailed documentation and record-keeping are required for all cannabis sample transportation activities. This includes maintaining records of sample collection, transportation, delivery, and any deviations or incidents that occur during transit.
By adhering to these regulations established by the DCC, cannabis businesses can ensure compliance with state laws and regulations governing the transportation of cannabis samples for regulatory and compliance testing. Additionally, following proper transportation, storage, and handling protocols helps maintain the safety, quality, and integrity of cannabis products throughout the testing process, ultimately ensuring consumer protection and regulatory compliance.
About Our Testing Sample Delivery Services
As your trusted partner, Pure Cannalyst Labs is your go-to resource to ensure cannabis samples arrive safely at our lab for cannabis testing in Orange County. We take compliance seriously, which is why we’ve invested in a specialized van equipped with a closed-off trunk and a secure lockbox inside. This ensures that the samples are safely contained and inaccessible during transport.
Ensuring the quality and safety of your cannabis products begins with proper storage and handling of samples before they’re delivered to a testing lab. By following these tips and guidelines, you can help maintain the integrity and accuracy of your samples, ultimately leading to reliable test results. At Pure Cannalyst Labs, we’re committed to providing top-notch cannabis testing services to growers and manufacturers in California. So, when it comes time to send off your samples for testing, rest assured that they’re in good hands with us.
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