Cannabis Testing Laboratory Quality Check Checklist [FREE PDF]

Cannabis testing laboratories operate under strict regulatory oversight from state cannabis control authorities and must adhere to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements, OSHA laboratory safety standards, and state-specific testing protocols to ensure that all Certificates of Analysis accurately reflect product safety and potency. Laboratories that fail to maintain quality systems risk suspension of their state testing license, invalidation of previously issued CoAs, and significant liability

  • Industry: Cannabis Testing
  • Frequency: Weekly
  • Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Role: Lab Director
  • Total Items: 43
  • Compliance: ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, State Cannabis Regulations - Laboratory Testing and Licensing Requirements, FDA 21 CFR Part 58 - Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, DEA Controlled Substances Act 21 U.S.C. § 823 - Registration Requirements for Laboratory Handlers

Laboratory Licensing & Accreditation Status

Confirm that all state licenses, DEA registrations, and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation documents are current and posted.

  • Is the laboratory's state cannabis testing license current, unexpired, and posted in a visible location?
  • Is the laboratory's DEA Schedule I researcher or analyst registration current and on file?
  • Is the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation certificate current and does its scope cover all tests currently offered to cannabis clients?
  • Are all laboratory analysts listed on the state cannabis testing license or as approved personnel with the regulatory authority?
  • Have any regulatory citations, warning letters, or license conditions been issued since the last quality review, and have they been addressed?

Instrument Calibration & Preventive Maintenance

Verify that all analytical instruments are within calibration, have current maintenance records, and are performing within specifications.

  • Are all primary analytical instruments (HPLC, GC-MS, ICP-MS) within their scheduled calibration period?
  • Are calibration curves for each analytical method within acceptance criteria and documented in the LIMS or logbook?
  • Have all instruments received scheduled preventive maintenance within the manufacturer's recommended service interval?
  • Are analytical balances and reference weights calibrated with current certificates traceable to NIST standards?
  • Are instrument logbooks or LIMS records complete with all usage, maintenance, and anomaly entries for the review period?

Sample Chain of Custody & Integrity

Confirm sample receipt, chain of custody documentation, and sample storage conditions meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.

  • Are all incoming samples accompanied by a completed chain of custody form with sample description, source, and collection details?
  • Are samples stored under the conditions specified by the testing method (temperature, light, humidity) from receipt through analysis?
  • Is sample storage segregated to prevent cross-contamination between different client batches and sample types?
  • Are all sample storage temperatures recorded and within specification for the current review period?
  • Is the retain sample from each tested batch stored under appropriate conditions for the state-mandated retention period?
  • Are rejected or quarantined samples clearly labeled and segregated from active samples awaiting testing?

Quality Control Samples & Proficiency Testing

Verify that method quality controls (blanks, spikes, duplicates, CRMs) and external proficiency tests are within acceptance criteria.

  • Are method blanks, laboratory control samples (LCS), and matrix spike samples included in every analytical batch?
  • Are all quality control sample results within the laboratory's established acceptance criteria (e.g., ±20% RPD for duplicates)?
  • Has the laboratory participated in a proficiency testing (PT) or inter-laboratory comparison program within the past 12 months for all regulated test categories?
  • Were all recent proficiency testing results within acceptable z-score ranges (z ≤ |2|) for all regulated cannabis analytes?
  • Are certified reference materials (CRMs) used for instrument calibration verification and are current certificates on file?

Analyst Competency & Training Records

Confirm that all analysts are trained, competency-assessed, and authorized for the specific tests they perform.

  • Do all active analysts have documented initial competency assessments on file for each method they are authorized to perform?
  • Are annual competency re-assessments completed for all analysts performing regulated cannabis testing methods?
  • Have all analysts completed required OSHA laboratory safety training including hazardous chemical handling and emergency procedures?
  • Are training records, including method training sign-offs and SOP review acknowledgments, current and accessible in the training management system?
  • Are there any analysts currently performing tests outside the scope of their documented training or authorization?

Certificate of Analysis (CoA) Accuracy & Review

Audit a sample of recently issued Certificates of Analysis for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with state reporting requirements.

  • Do all reviewed CoAs include the laboratory name, license number, accreditation number, and analyst signature or electronic equivalent?
  • Do the CoAs accurately report results for all state-mandated test categories (potency, pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, residual solvents, moisture)?
  • Are pass/fail determinations on the CoA consistent with the state-published action levels for each regulated analyte?
  • Have all reviewed CoAs been subjected to a two-person review (analyst and reviewer) before issuance to clients?
  • Are corrected or amended CoAs properly documented with the reason for amendment and original CoA retained in the LIMS?
  • Are all CoA results uploaded to the state seed-to-sale tracking system within the required regulatory timeframe?

Laboratory Safety, Security & Controlled Substance Handling

Verify OSHA compliance, chemical safety, DEA-required security measures, and cannabis sample access controls.

  • Is the Chemical Hygiene Plan current, reviewed within the past 12 months, and accessible to all laboratory personnel?
  • Are all cannabis samples and reference standards stored in a DEA-compliant locked and secured area with restricted access?
  • Is the laboratory equipped with functioning emergency eyewash stations and safety showers inspected within the past month?
  • Are all laboratory fume hoods functioning properly with face velocity tested within the past 12 months?
  • Is all personal protective equipment (PPE) available, in serviceable condition, and used appropriately by analysts during sample processing?
  • Are cannabis sample disposal records complete and compliant with DEA disposal regulations and state cannabis waste requirements?

Corrective Actions & Continuous Improvement

Review open non-conformances, corrective action status, and laboratory improvement initiatives for the review period.

  • Are all open non-conformances from previous internal audits, PT failures, or regulatory inspections being actively addressed with documented corrective action plans?
  • Has an internal audit of the laboratory's quality management system been conducted within the past 12 months per ISO/IEC 17025 requirements?
  • Has management review of the quality management system been conducted within the past 12 months with documented outcomes?
  • Are customer complaints or disputes regarding test results documented and resolved within the laboratory's defined response timeframe?
  • Please document any significant quality events, ongoing corrective actions, or recommendations for the laboratory quality record:

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Why Use This Cannabis Testing Laboratory Quality Check Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This cannabis testing laboratory quality check checklist [free pdf] helps cannabis testing teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for lab director professionals, this checklist covers 43 critical inspection points across 8 sections. Recommended frequency: weekly.

Ensures compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450 - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, State Cannabis Regulations - Laboratory Testing and Licensing Requirements, FDA 21 CFR Part 58 - Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, DEA Controlled Substances Act 21 U.S.C. § 823 - Registration Requirements for Laboratory Handlers. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Cannabis Testing Laboratory Quality Check Checklist [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 43 inspection items across 8 sections: Laboratory Licensing & Accreditation Status, Instrument Calibration & Preventive Maintenance, Sample Chain of Custody & Integrity, Quality Control Samples & Proficiency Testing, Analyst Competency & Training Records, Certificate of Analysis (CoA) Accuracy & Review, Laboratory Safety, Security & Controlled Substance Handling, Corrective Actions & Continuous Improvement. It is designed for cannabis testing operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed weekly. Each completion takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Who should use this Cannabis Testing Laboratory Quality Check Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for Lab Director professionals in the cannabis testing industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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