Illinois Cannabis Testing Labs
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Does Illinois License Independent Cannabis Testing Labs?
In Illinois, cannabis testing laboratories must be independent and approved by the Division of Cannabis Regulation of the Department of Agriculture. Laboratories licensed by this Department can carry out cannabis tests in Illinois. These testing laboratories must apply to test medical cannabis and recreational marijuana to be approved and licensed.
Requirements for Marijuana Testing Labs in Illinois
A certified laboratory approved to carry out cannabis testing in Illinois must have an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. ISO accreditations are benchmarks used globally in various organizations and in research by academic institutions. A laboratory with an ISO accreditation ensures that tested marijuana products are of high quality. An ISO-accredited laboratory must also have an established standard operating procedure (SOP).
In order to conduct cannabis tests, an Illinois testing laboratory is expected to meet the following requirements:
- Be licensed by a private laboratory accrediting organization
- Do not have a direct or indirect financial or management interest with a dispensary, cultivation center, certified physician or other entity that may benefit from the production, manufacture, dispensing, sale, purchase, or use of cannabis
- Employ at least one person in the laboratory who is a bachelor’s or master’s degree holder of chemical or biological science
- An employee must be from a university accredited by a national or regional authority with a minimum of 4 year (bachelor’s) and 2 year (master’s) post-degree laboratory experience
Illinois Required Tests for Cannabis Products
In Illinois, cannabis products must be tested for the following before they are made available in dispensaries for public sales and consumptions:
- Microbiological contaminants
- Mycotoxins
- Pesticide active ingredients
- Residual solvent
- Active ingredient analysis
How Do Illinois Marijuana Testing Labs Submit and Report Test Results?
State-licensed cannabis testing facilities must submit laboratory test reports to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Furthermore, laboratories must file electronic copies of cannabis test results that pass the five required tests to the Department of Agriculture and to cultivation centers at the same time. Laboratories are required to keep records of all test results for at least five years and make them available at the request of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
How Much Does It Cost to Test Cannabis in Illinois?
There are no details on how much cannabis testing labs charge in Illinois. To determine the amount charged by laboratories in Illinois, cultivators, processors, manufacturers, and dispensaries must visit state-licensed laboratories to make enquiries about the costs of cannabis tests in these laboratories.
What Happens to Cannabis Products That Fail Lab Tests in Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Agriculture requires a recall for any batch of cannabis products that fails pesticide chemical residue test. However, a batch that fails any of the other tests%20If%20the%20sample%20failed,I%20(Destruction%20of%20Cannabis).) may be used to make a CO2 or solvent based extract. In return, the CO2 or solvent based extract must pass all the required tests.
Cultivation centers, craft growers, and infusers are responsible for destroying cannabis products that are not safe for the public. They must send a 7-day notice to the Department of Agriculture before destroying any cannabis product.
List of Cannabis Testing Labs in Illinois
The following are the licensed cannabis testing labs in Illinois:
- ACT Laboratories Inc.
- Deibel Bioscience of Illinois, LLC
- Grace Analytcal Laboratory, Inc.
- LK Pure Labs
- MS Bioanalytical, LLC
- Smithers CTS IL, LLC
- Steep Hill