Total organic carbon (TOC) is a rapid method that analyzes for organic carbon and expresses the result as the amount of carbon found. It is a nonspecific method unable to distinguish between various organic species and indicates only that organic carbon compounds are present. TOC analyzers operate by determining the amount of total carbon in a [Read More...]
Measuring the concentration of aqueous solutions containing one component can be easy. There are numerous techniques that accomplish this goal, such as density measurement or titration. Aqueous solutions that contain two dissolved components, however, present entirely different challenges. With two compounds in solution, one compound can easily influence the measurement of the other, leading to [Read More...]
As a mass spectrometrist who has migrated into the realm of clinical chemistry, I frequently tell my clinical chemistry colleagues that mass spectrometrists want to take over the world. Although an exaggeration, this statement is seldom challenged, probably in recognition of the many positive ways that mass spectrometry already has influenced the clinical laboratory and [Read More...]
The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and Americans for Safe Access (ASA)announced yesterday a collaboration to develop a cannabis-specific laboratory accreditation program based upon the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and ASA’ s Patient Focused Certification (PFC) Program. Accreditationunder this program will offer the highest level of recognition and provide the most value to the [Read More...]
In states where cannabis is legalized, some analytical laboratories are tasked with identifying and quantifying pesticide content in plant material. This is a relatively new concept in the study of cannabis as most forensic laboratories that work with seized plant material are only concerned with positively identifying the sample as cannabis. Laboratories of this nature, often [Read More...]
