Importance of Quality Control in the Lab

Quality is an essential factor in every industry all over the world. The value of goods and services and the response of customers all depend on the quality and in present times where numerous competitors struggle for dominance in a small market, the success of any organization or business depends immensely on their ability to provide the public with goods and services of the highest quality. The relevance of quality is never as poignant as in the laboratory where a single error in test results could make or mar a study, diagnosis and even patient treatment.

Following the recent transition of cannabis from a purely recreational drug to a medicinal drug, it has been adopted in a range of medical fields and used in the treatment of several health conditions. This change combined with the legalization of cannabis necessitates the need for an effective quality control program to be implemented in the laboratory if there is to be remarkable revenue growth in the cannabis industry.

What Is Quality Control?

Quality control (QC) serves as the pillar on which the precision, accuracy, and reliability of test results rest. It can simply be described as a means of identifying analytical errors in the laboratory to ensure that test results are not only accurate and reliable but also efficiently provided to offer optimum results.

Quality Control in Cannabis Laboratories

Cannabis is not left out of the rigorous testing procedures which other pharmaceutical drugs undergo before they can be made available in the market. As something touted to provide the human body with relief from aches, pains, inflammation, anxiety and a variety of other symptoms, cannabis is required to undergo thorough testing procedures to ensure that it is not only adequately potent to provide therapeutic relief for the condition it is being used for but also fit for human consumption. Due to the absence of a universal testing standard, producers and testing laboratories have engaged in the form of testing which can only be labeled as sporadic and without adequately addressing the issues which pertain to Quality Control in the laboratory, it would be challenging to identify deficiencies in the testing process and consequently, results collated.

Benefits of Quality Control

To ensure that tests are conducted adequately, in line with established procedures and requirements, it is essential that laboratory testing is frequently monitored through quality control so as to enhance accuracy. Below are some of the several benefits to be gained from introducing quality control in the laboratory;

• Quality control would mandate that medical cannabis be treated as a pharmaceutical drug, ensuring that physical, chemical, and microbiological evaluations are conducted during the testing.

• Quality control would also have the added benefit of enhancing the quality of the finished product, thus endorsing its safety and suitability for human consumption.

• Quality control helps producers to be proactive in identifying defects and problems with machinery that would otherwise have remained undetected, and overcoming such challenges.

• Furthermore, it would also help producers and suppliers to keep abreast of any changes in the regulatory environment so as to meet up with demand and grow their business.

• It also aids the effectiveness of producers in minimizing risk and adhering to proper procedure, giving consumers and regulatory bodies confidence in the quality of their products.

Conclusion

Quality control is an essential factor in cannabis laboratory testing process as it not only ensures the accuracy and reliability of test results but also improves the effectiveness of the testing procedure, thus enhancing an increase in reliability and revenue.