Gas Chromatography Testing

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical chemistry method used to separate and identify volatile compounds in cannabis samples, including terpenes and some cannabinoids. A sample is heated to vaporize its components, which then travel through a column filled with a stationary phase; different molecules exit at different rates, allowing quantification of individual terpenes. GC-FID (flame ionization detection) and GC-MS (mass spectrometry) are the most common configurations in cannabis testing labs. This technique provides precise terpene profiles—showing which compounds are present and in what concentration—helping breeders document strain characteristics and enabling standardized comparison across cultivars. GC testing is foundational to modern cannabis genetics work, though it measures only volatile compounds and requires skilled lab operation for accurate results.

Breeders use GC terpene profiles to document strain lineages, track consistency across generations, and identify plants with desired volatile compound compositions. Accurate terpene data helps breeding programs maintain genetic records and communicate chemotype information to other researchers.