N.M. Admin. Code § 7.34.4.19

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 7.34.4.19 - DEPARTMENT-APPROVED TESTING LABORATORIES; INSTRUMENTATION; INITIAL AND CONTINUING DEMONSTRATIONS OF CAPABILITY

A.Mycotoxin test instrumentation: A laboratory shall utilize HPLC, LCMS, or LCMSMS instrumentation to test for the presence of mycotoxins in usable cannabis and shall analyze for mycotoxins at a concentration as low as 1 µg/kg (ppb). Mycotoxin testing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Table 2, Mycotoxins Testing Requirements.

B.Residual solvents test instrumentation: A laboratory shall utilize gas chromatography - flame ionization detector (GC-FID), gas chromatography tandem photoionization detector/flame ionization detector (GC-PID/FID), or GCMS instrumentation to test for the presence of residual solvents and shall analyze for residual solvents at a concentration as low as 2µg/g (ppm). Residual solvent testing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Table 3, Residual Solvent Testing Requirements.

C.Potency test instrumentation: A laboratory shall utilize HPLC or LCMS instrumentation to test for potency in usable cannabis and shall analyze usable cannabis in accordance with the provisions at Table 4 Potency Testing Requirements.

D.Heavy metals test instrumentation: A laboratory shall utilize Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or flow injection mercury system (FIMS) instrumentation to test for the presence of heavy metals in usable cannabis and shall analyze for heavy metals at a concentration as low as 0.2 µg/g (ppm) for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), as low as 1.0 µg/g (ppm) for arsenic (As) and 0.1 µg/g (ppm) for mercury (Hg). Heavy metals testing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Table 5, Heavy Metals Testing Requirements.

E.Pesticide test instrumentation: A laboratory shall utilize high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LCMS), or liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS) instrumentation to test for the presence of pesticides in usable cannabis and shall analyze for pesticides at a concentration as low as 100 µg/kg (ppb). Pesticide testing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Table 6, Pesticide Testing Requirements.

F.Initial and continuing demonstrations of capability required: A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall submit to the department an initial demonstration of capability (IDC) for every test identified in this rule that the laboratory or applicant intends to conduct. A laboratory shall submit a continuing demonstration of capability (CDC) annually as part of the laboratory's application for renewal of licensure. The IDC shall be submitted to the department prior to the laboratory or laboratory applicant conducting tests pursuant to this rule. Each IDC and CDC shall describe how quality control samples (negative control samples, positive control samples, low-positive controls, and instrument performance check controls), internal standards, and surrogate standards are to be assessed to determine if the data from an analytical batch are acceptable. The laboratory shall maintain a documented procedure for performing every IDC and CDC. The laboratory shall retain documentation verifying the IDC and CDC for each test required by this rule and make this documentation available to the department upon request. The IDC and CDCs shall follow the same parameters as outlined in the requirements of this rule. Every IDC and CDC that is submitted shall be conducted within one year of application (excluding mycotoxins).

(1) An IDC shall be reconducted and resubmitted to the department:

(a) whenever there is a change in method;

(b) whenever an instrument has been moved;

(c) whenever a new instrument is installed; and

(d) whenever the method has not been performed by the laboratory or sampler within a 12-month period.

(2) Every IDC and CDC shall include the following elements:

(a)Demonstration of method calibration: The calibration range shall use at least five calibration points consisting of five different concentration levels of target compounds. The calibration range shall include a low calibration point equal to, or less, than the required minimum reporting level for each targeted compound. The calibration range shall include a calibration point equal to the action level for each targeted compound (mycotoxins and residual solvents). A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall provide the equation and the type of curve fit used for the calibration range, and the percent relative standard deviation or the goodness of fit. The percent relative standard deviation shall be less than twenty percent, or the goodness of fit (correlation coefficient) shall be 0.995 or better.

(b)Demonstration of method accuracy and precision: A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall supply the quantitation data for five positive control samples analyzed by its testing method utilizing a median or mid-level calibration concentration. A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall calculate and provide the calculated mean (average) result and the standard deviation. The percent relative standard deviation shall be less than fifteen percent, and the mean shall be within fifteen percent of the expected concentration. For laboratories using GC-FID, GC-PID/FID, or GCMS platforms for residual solvents, the percent relative standard deviation may be within twenty percent, and the mean may be within twenty percent, of the expected concentration for the targeted compounds propane, n-butane, isobutane, and methanol.

(c)Demonstration of method detection limit: A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall supply the quantitation data of seven low-level or minimum action level positive control samples. The concentration of these low-level positive control samples is set equal to the lowest calibration point the laboratory uses. These data are then used to calculate a standard deviation, which is then used to calculate method detection limit (MDL) using the following equation: (3.14267 x standard deviation = method detection limit). The calculated method detection limit for each targeted mycotoxin and residual solvent shall be less than the required method reporting level. For potency testing, quantitation values of all the seven low-level positive controls fall within fifty perecent to one hundred and fifty percent% of the expected concentration for the cannabinoids THC, THCA, CBD, and CDBA

(d)Demonstration of low system background: A laboratory or laboratory applicant shall supply the analytical data of at least three negative control samples that do not contain any mycotoxins, residual solvents, or cannabinoids. For mycotoxins and residual solvents, the quantitation values shall be less than the minimum detection limit or a non-detect. For potency testing, the quantitation values shall be less than one-third of the value of the method reporting level.

(e) Demonstration of analyte identification: A laboratory that uses, and a laboratory applicant than intends to use, HPLC, GC-FID, or GC-PID/FID instrumentation shall supply analytical data where each targeted compound is analyzed as a single compound giving it its characteristic retention time. A laboratory that uses, and a laboratory applicant than intends to use, GCMS, LCMS, or LCMSMS instrumentation shall supply analytical data with the characteristic mass spectrum of each targeted compound.

G.Use of internal standards: A laboratory shall utilize an internal standard chemical compound in the instrumental analysis (testing methods) of cannabinoids, residual solvents, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pesticides, which are collectively referred to as the tested analytes. The internal standard compound shall be used to determine the characteristic relative chromatographic retention times of these tested analytes to ensure proper analyte identifications (qualification) whenever mass spectral data are not obtained by an instrument. The internal standard compound shall be used to determine the relative instrument response of the tested analytes to ensure the proper measurement of analyte concentrations (quantitation).

H.Reporting results: A laboratory shall use no more than two significant figures to report a positive result. A laboratory shall report a non-detect of an analyte as less than the laboratory's minimum reporting level. A laboratory shall also report a pass or fail evaluation with the reported result. A pass evaluation is assigned to a reported result less than the analytes action level listed. A fail evaluation is assigned to a reported result equal to or greater than the action level for each given analysis, consistent with the requirements of this rule.

N.M. Admin. Code § 7.34.4.19

7.34.4.19 NMAC - Rp, 7.34.4.17 NMAC, 12/30/2010, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVI, Issue 04, February 27, 2015, eff. 2/27/2015, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 04, February 29, 2016, eff. 2/29/2016, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXX, Issue 16, August 27, 2019, eff. 8/27/2019, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 12, June 23, 2020, eff. 6/23/2020