Purity Testing

Purity testing refers to laboratory analysis protocols designed to identify contaminants, residual solvents, pesticides, microbial pathogens, and heavy metals in cannabis flower and processed material. These tests establish baseline safety and composition data independent of claimed lineage or breeding history. Purity testing is distinct from potency analysis (cannabinoid profiling) and terpene profiling, though results from all three are often combined in comprehensive lab reports. Testing standards and required contaminant thresholds vary significantly by jurisdiction, reflecting different regulatory frameworks across legal markets. For breeders and seed producers, purity testing on parent plants and resulting progeny helps identify which genetic lines or cultivation environments may carry higher contamination risks.

Breeders working in regulated markets use purity testing data to make selection decisions, favoring parent plants and phenotypes that consistently test clean across multiple grow cycles and environments. High contamination results can indicate susceptibility to specific pathogens or accumulation traits, informing breeding away from problematic lineages.