The efficacy of a CBD product and the range of benefits that it offers are determined by the quality of the ingredients and its purity level. It is illogical to expect that every CBD brand will offer top-quality products because the largely unregulated CBD market reports the involvement of fraudster CBD brands. Third-party labs operate in the CBD industry to test the product of various brands for quality and purity levels.
In this session, we discuss the various factors that third-party labs test for in the process of testing the quality of CBD products.
Cannabinoid Profile
Third-party labs test for the cannabinoid profile of the CBD product using specialized techniques like high-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to quantify the cannabinoids like CBD, THC, CBN, CBG, etc. You can check the third-party lab test results to confirm that the cannabinoid concentration mentioned on the product label is accurate.
Higher levels of THC can cause euphoric effects in the users, which is why the Federal laws have strictly instructed that the THC level should be kept below 0.3% in CBD products. If the THC content mentioned in the product label doesn’t match the THC level mentioned in the lab results, it is best you avoid purchasing it.
Terpene Profiles
Terpenes are volatile compounds that give plants like cannabis, lemon, roses, tea-tree, etc their characteristic aroma. The therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant depend not just on its cannabinoid profile but also on its terpene content that has muscle-relaxing, sedative, anti-nausea properties, etc.
Terpenes play a significant role in increasing the absorption rate of CBD, and full-spectrum CBD products that include all beneficial terpenes in the hemp plant make the best use of hemp terpenes. The companies that make full-spectrum products will get their products lab tested for terpene content.
Heavy Metals
Being a hyperaccumulator, the hemp plant absorbs contents in the soil that might include harmful compounds like heavy metals that can cause the destruction of cell structures in the body. Third-party labs test for the presence of heavy metals like Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, etc.
Organic Solvents
CO2 extraction doesn’t involve the use of toxic organic solvents unlike butane extraction, propane extraction, etc. However third-party testing labs still test for the presence of organic solvents to ensure that the products do not contain any harmful compounds.
Biological Contaminants
Third-party labs test for the presence of biological contaminants too that include parasites, bacteria, molds, fungi, etc. If the hemp-containing biological contaminants undergo the extraction process, the final CBD product too will be contaminated.
To choose the best quality CBD, check out the third-party lab results added on the product label or the product website.