About Us
Eastern Analytical Labs serves licensed cannabis growers and processors of Maryland. Eastern Analytical Labs is licensed by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (L-19-00003), DEA (RE0654093) and ISO 17025 (4966.01). We provide responsive service, data generated by our team of Ph.D. scientists and test results guaranteed within 5 business days.
Team
Services
Testing Menu
• Microbial Contamination and Mycotoxins
• Moisture and water content
• Heavy Metals
• Terpenes
• Residual Solvents
• Potency of Cannabinoids
• Pesticides
• Vitamin E Acetate
• Full Panel Flower
• Full Panel Concentrates
Volume pricing discounts available. Free sample pickups. Test results provided via online certificate of analysis portal within 5 business days
Testing & Analysis
Cannabinoid Potency and Analysis
Ensures patients are not over-medicating. Cannabinoids are reported in percentage of total weight (wt.%): number of cannabinoids divided by total weight of the samples. This information is crucial for patients to gauge dosage levels in edibles and other products that vary by weight. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) separates cannabinoids by polarity and is used to analyze Phytocannabinoids found in cannabis flowers, concentrates, and infused products.
Terpene Analysis
Terpenes enhance the product's flavor and smell, which contribute to the overall entourage experience from the plant. Terpenes are organic compounds that can be found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. By providing terpene percentages in cannabis, patient advisors can guide consumers on how to choose their medicine for specific symptoms and conditions. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) allows us to detect terpene percentages in cannabis by separating them based on their boiling points. The mass spectrometer helps us identify the terpenes by molecular weight.
Water Activity
Heavy Metal Analysis
Heavy metals come from the soil or water present in the growing stages of cannabis. Heavy metals are known to be highly toxic because the body is unable to remove these metals after exposure. Our Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) helps identify different metals. ICPMS is an analytical instrument used to detect metals in samples at very low concentrations, down to ppt (parts per trillion). We test for Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, and Silver.
Pesticides
Commonly used to protect plants against weeds, fungi, insects or small animals, pesticide residues on cannabis can pose significant risks to immune-compromised patients. Specifically, patients with liver disease and other ailments can be negatively affected by toxic chemical exposure. Eastern Analytical Labs test for pesticides using our Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS). LC-MS is an analytical instrument that uses liquid chromatography to separate pesticides and mycotoxins by polarity, and identifies their molecular weight using mass spectrometry.
Microbial Contamination
We currently test for four microbiological impurities: Salmonella, E.coli, total aerobic microbial count, and total yeast and mold count. For edible products we also test with coliforms, STEC E. coli, and Listeria. Most outbreaks of bacterial sickness have been due to contamination of solid, water, or processing surfaces. We plate and incubate our samples to allow the proper environment for microbes to grow if present.
Residual Solvents
Can be detected in any products that contain cannabis extracted with chemicals such as ethanol, propane, hexane, and butane. Other solventless extraction methods include C02 or a Rosin heat press but can be more costly. These solvents can be toxic, which is why residual solvent analysis is a critical element of cannabis testing. We use our GCMS, an analytical instrument that uses gas chromatography to separate residual solvents. The solvents are separated by boiling point and analyzed by molecular weight using mass spectrometry.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by certain fungi that can contaminate various agricultural products, including cannabis. These fungi, commonly found in the environment, may proliferate under specific conditions such as high humidity, inadequate ventilation, and poor storage. Mycotoxins pose a health risk to humans and animals when consumed, inhaled, or otherwise exposed to contaminated products. We test for mycotoxins using LC-MS analysis.