FAQs

Why is it important to test my cannabis products?

Just as you would want any and all of your medicines to be tested and approved as free of harmful elements, it is important that a qualified laboratory testing facility examine your cannabis products for quality and safety. You should insist on consumable products that are within reasonable guidelines and are proven not to cause harm.

What safety parameters does IRON Laboratories address?

Plenty of contaminants can occur in botanical products, including cannabis, both organic and chemical. Molds, mildews, yeasts and bacteria can be found growing in and on cannabis products and can be harmful, depending on their concentrations and your sensitivity to their effects. Insects and rodents may be present or may have left droppings or disease. Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and other agents used in the growth process can also pose health issues and difficulties. Solvents such as butane, acetone, ethanol, isopropanol and hexane have all been found in the production of cannabis concentrates such as oils, waxes and tinctures. IRON Laboratories tests for these solvents and others, ensuring that they have been properly eliminated from cannabis products before you use them.

 

What is ISO/IEC 17025 ?

ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization (the acronym is out of order in English, but not other languages).  ISO/IEC17025:2017 is a standard that was developed by ISO for testing and calibration laboratories.  These standards are a way for an independent third party to ensure that the laboratories practices and procedures are done in a way that ensures the quality of their results.  This means that the lab uses only certified materials, statistically valid testing methods and documentation practices that ensure traceability of all results. For more info click this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_17025 

 

Why is ISO Important?

ISO/IEC 17025 was first issued in 1999 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It is the single most important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world. Laboratories that are accredited to this international standard have demonstrated that they areTECHNICALLY competent and able to produce precise and accurateTEST and/or calibration data.

 

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary, third party-reviewed process. As part of accreditation, a laboratory'sQUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM is thoroughly evaluated on a regular basis to ensure continued technical competence and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025. Laboratory accreditation can only be granted by an accreditation body, or AB. Although there are a number of accreditation bodies in the US, customers should choose calibration and testing laboratories accredited by ABs having an MRA with ILAC.

 

What is the ILAC MRA? Why is it Important?

 In order for accreditation bodies to recognize each others' accreditations, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) developed a standard for accreditation bodies: ISO/IEC 17011. ABs having a Mutual RecognitionARRANGEMENT (or MRA) with ILAC agree to maintain conformity with the current version of 17011 and to regularly submit themselves and their own quality management systems to peer review. By complying with ISO/IEC 17011, ABs demonstrate that they are capable of accrediting testing and/orCALIBRATION LABORATORIES to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. In essence, the ILAC arrangement guarantees that test results are mutually acceptable between different governmental and regulatory organizations on regional, national and international levels and that these test results meet the same minimum standards for quality regardless of the lab's accreditation body. Each member of the agreement recognizes other members' accredited laboratory as if they themselves had performed the calibration because the MRA ensures that each laboratory is actually complying with the same minimum standards.

 

What is Uncertainty?

On every sample tested with Iron Laboratories we disclaim that the result is +/- 5% Relative Standard Deviation (RSD).  This is because each item requires numerous measurements to prepare the sample which is ultimately tested.  Each measurement (and this is true of all measurements not just those at this laboratory) can only be so precise.  For example: when you step on a scale to weigh yourself the result may be 160 pounds, however, this is an estimation made by the scale due to lack of precision.  The true value may be 159.8723451 etc… pounds.  These small rounding errors add up for each sample, leading to some amount of uncertainty.  The equipment used at Iron Laboratories is very precise and thus, there is a relatively small margin of error on all of our samples.

 

 

How does IRON Laboratories determine the quality of cannabis products?

As cannabis is a complex plant with many elements that affect the human body, it is the presence of specific elements (THC, cannabinoids and terpenes), and their amounts and ratios to each other that can impact your health and well being. IRON Laboratories identifies the existence and amounts of select cannabinoids, terpenes and residual solvents of your plant, concentrate and edible products. We use modern microscopic and biologic analyses to identify molds, pests, bacteria and other impurities and report our findings to you in a timely fashion via email or via hard copy, if you prefer.

What cannabis products does IRON Laboratories test?

We test all forms of cannabis products:

  • Plant  
    • Flower
    • Leaf
    • We require 1.5 grams of flower for testing
  • Concentrate - Infused Product
    • Oils 
    • Waxes
    • Tinctures
    • Shatter
    • We require 0.6 grams for testing
  • Edibles - Infused Product
    • Foods
    • Drinks
    • We require 1 full serving size for testing

How much cannabis product sample is required for testing?

Generally, we need at least 1.5 grams of flower or 0.6 grams of concentrate and for edibles we need a full serving size to perform a thorough test and provide optimal results.

 

Is it true IRON Laboratories will come to you ? 

Yes, We service the entire states of Michigan & Oregon currently with future Lab locations Coming Soon....

Visit our contact page for more info on Lab hours, Locations,Office Numbers, & any other general questions you may have.

 

If I test my products regularly, am I eligible for a volume discount?

Yes, IRON Laboratories offers a Recurring Membership program that provides a discount for product testing.

 

FAQ'S on Edibiles click this link: www.ironlaboratories.com/edibles

FAQ'S on Bio/Microbial click this link: www.ironlaboratories.com/bio

 

How do I get my products to IRON Laboratories for testing?

The federal government prohibits the delivery of cannabis through the mail, so product must be delivered directly to our facility. A courier system provides delivery services to some of our higher volume clients. You are welcome to check with us to see if a convenient drop-off point is available in your area.