AOAC Approves Six Tests for Yeast and Mold Counts in Cannabis
A range of methods for quantifying yeast and mold in dried cannabis flower have been approved by AOAC International.
These validations from the lab standards organization should help give cannabis labs more confidence in using the methods for assessing the presence of the potentially harmful microorganisms.
Testing the test
The six approved methods are as follows:
- Neogen Soleris Direct Yeast and Mold
- 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate
- 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate
- bioMerieux’s TEMPO Yeast and Mold
- Nissui Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.’s Compact-Dry “Nissui” YMR
- Millipore Sigma SimPlate Yeast and Mold Color Indicator
All six methods have been previously validated by the AOAC for several food products.
“AOAC is playing a critical role in the development of analytical science in the growing cannabis and hemp sector,” Scott Coates, AOAC’s senior director, said in a statement.
In recent months, AOAC has also approved a PCR test from Bio-Rad that can detect four different types of Aspergillus species in cannabis samples, as well as a test from bioMérieux that can detect Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in cannabis flower.
Since December 2020, AOAC has been undertaking an emergency response validation process of cannabis testing methods in light of the state of Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s decision to only accept data from cannabis testing methods if they have been AOAC-approved.
