At Confidence Analytics, we strive to understand more about Cannabis every day. Not only do we perform experiments to improve our procedures and data quality, but we have the opportunity to try new and exciting techniques in the laboratory.

A look at microbial testing in I502, as featured in November 2014’s Marijuana Venture Magazine.

It’s a terribly frustrating experience. Heartbreaking, even. You’ve invested a lot of time and money into this incredible plant. You know every plant in your operation by heart. You have put all the right ingredients into them, including your own blood, sweat and tears. Your hard work has yielded something that looks beautiful, smells incredible and tastes delicious. But then your phone buzzes, and it’s the testing laboratory. Your numbers are looking great, but the sample has failed the microbial testing. In a single phone call, your hard work has been devalued by two-thirds in the marketplace. How did this happen? Why? Most importantly, how do you keep it from happening again? Let’s take a closer look at these questions and open the discussion on this troublesome issue.

Neem oil. 91% Isopropyl alcohol. Hydrogen peroxide. Capsaicin extracts. These are the treatments growers recommend when you ask them how to cure your mold, mite, and mystery problems. Do they work? Some swear by their recipe, but do we have the data to show their efficacy? Your trusted friends from across the spectrum of hobby gardeners to agricultural producers swear they’ve saved crops with their recipe, but can they provide the proof in numbers? Here’s the thing: they might all work or they might not, and generally one or all of them will be tried out of frustration and even desperation, but is the investment worth it? We think it’s time to find out.