Analysis of Mycotoxins in Cannabis Plant and Cannabis- Containing Products

As medical and recreational cannabis use gains broader acceptance, regulations are being put in place to mandate the testing of consumer products containing Cannabis. Legally available Cannabis plants and cannabis-containing edible products are tested for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and other harmful substances. Mycotoxins are another group of contaminants that state regulations have established maximum allowed levels for. In cannabis products sold to consumers the maximum allowed levels for total Aflatoxins G1, G2, B1 and B2 are set at < 20 ppb and for Ochratoxin A at < 20 ppb.

Pickering developed an easy and sensitive method to analyze Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and Ochratoxin A in cannabis plant and edible products. Mycotoxins are isolated using immunoaffinity clean-up columns and analyzed with fluorescence detection. To increase the sensitivity of Aflatoxins B1 and G1, an in-line photochemical reactor is installed before the detector. This method utilizes standard HPLC equipment and allows laboratories to easily determine Mycotoxins at levels below the limits established by state regulations.