Yes. PathoSEEK's Aspergillus 5-Color Multiplex and Salmonella/STEC E.coli Multiplex assays have been certified by the AOAC for use on cannabis flower, concentrates, and infused edibles
The Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) publishes microbiological and chemical standards used globally to promote trade and to facilitate public health and safety. Testing labs trust AOAC-certified testing methods because they have passed a rigorous validation process and results have been repeated in multiple locations. Until recently, there have not been Sample Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) published for testing on a cannabis matrix.
Medicinal Genomics is a member of the AOAC's Cannabis Analytical Science Program (CASP) working group. So far, we have earned AOAC Certification for:
- PathoSEEK® Aspergillus 5-Color Multiplex Detection Assays with SenSATIVAx® Extraction Kits for use on cannabis flower, concentrates, and infused edibles
- PathoSEEK® Salmonella and STEC E. coli Multiplex Assay with SenSATIVAx® Extraction Kits for use on cannabis flower, concentrates, and infused edibles
In 2019, the AOAC developed a Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR) for Aspergillus, STEC E.coli, and Salmonella detection on cannabis. These are three separate SMPRs. In 2020, the AOAC also launched an Emergency Response Validation project for the enumeration of viable total yeast and mold in dried cannabis flower.
As of December 2020, only one microbial testing technology has completed the AOAC’s Performance Tested Methods (PTM) Program for detecting salmonella on cannabis and hemp flower. A few method developers have followed suit in 2021. You can search all the PTMs on the AOAC website.
For SMPRs relevant to PathoSEEK®, the AOAC has only released a Sample Method Performance Requirement (SMPR) for Aspergillus flavus, fumigatus, niger and terreus (SMPR 2019.001) as well as for for Salmonella (SMPR 2020.002) and pathogenic (STEC) e.coli (SMPR 2020.012).
As of April 2021, Medicinal Genomics is in the process of validating against all available SMPRs and will continue to do so as new SMPRs are introduced. We already have extensive internal manufacturer validations performed on all of our assays and published on our website, but the PTM process demands that data is submitted a certain way and validated by a third party and these projects are underway.
Total Yeast and Mold
There is an official SMPR for viable Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYM) enumeration and our team is in the process of submitting our method for approval. Please review our help center articles on the origin of the Emergency Response Validation for TYM as well as the pitfalls of using plating techniques as a baseline for comparing molecular methods to culture-based methods.
Total Yeast and Mold Emergency Response Validation
After a Century as the "Gold Standard", It's Time for Plating to be Retired
Why is Chloramphenicol problematic for microbial testing on cannabis and hemp?