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Hemp field sampling procedure

Scope

The Trade and Consumer Protections Hemp Pilot Research Programs Sample Collection Standard Operating Technique is a modified version of this procedure. It's designed for pre-harvest hemp sampling, so you can examine your hemp before harvesting it.

Equipment Needed

  • Pen/Marker

  • Sanitizing wipes

  • Sample bags

  • Pruners or Shears

  • Hand counter (Optional)

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Key Factors To Remember

Determining the amounts of plants to sample

The number of random samples you should take from each lot will depend on what type and potency level your product falls into. The minimum required amount is given below, but additional ones may be needed for certain types or levels.

Before Sampling

If you are looking to take a representative sample of your lot, you can reap the optimal results for sampling and ensure an accurate analysis of the overall condition and quality of your item based on the following factors:

To avoid any possible risk of contamination, it may be necessary to divide the lot into smaller portions and sample them separately.

Procedure for Sampling

Sampling the field in a saw-tooth pattern will ensure even coverage of all plant areas. Provide evenly-spaced cuttings throughout your property with samples from one section or lot that can then be used for planting other lots as needed, without having any bias towards certain parts due to how it was sampled originally.

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Sample Collection

  • 1 Place a two-inch piece of cola in the sample container.
  • 2 Keep track of how many cuts you've made.
  • 3 Choose random representative plants
    a. Healthy plants with various appearances should be included so that each type of plant is represented in the sample.
  • 4 Fold the top of the bag and secure it tightly after you've taken all of the clippings.
  • 5 The cutting tool should be cleaned and sanitized right after.
  • 6 Repeat steps 1–5 for each lot that has to be sampled if more specimens are needed.

Homogenizing a Sample Lot

The amount of sample obtained will be more significant than what is necessary for most analyses (1 gram required for potency test). Before any analysis, the material must be homogenized. Otherwise, the results of any chemical analysis would not be representative of actual conditions. For a small sample prep fee, CannaLabs can homogenize the sample when it arrives at our lab.

 

To homogenize a sample:

  • Clean out the sample container of any leaves or other material.
  • Remove the flower from the stalk and set it in a sanitized, clean blender or grinder. It's best to use a waring blender or a coffee grinder. Batch grinding is permissible as long as the collections can be uniformly homogenized.
  • Grind the flower until it is consistent in texture.
  • Divide the homogenized sample into parts and place them in the appropriate test container.
  • Sanitize and clean the blender/grinder
  • For any more sample lots, repeat procedures 1–5.

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