DigiPath Labs, Romer Labs to validate kit-based assays for food-borne pathogen, mycotoxin testing for cannabis

Jul 28 2015

DigiPath Labs, the cannabis testing subsidiary of DigiPath, Inc. (OTCQB: DIGP), is combining efforts with True North Laboratory of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Romer Labs, a leading global supplier of diagnostic solutions for food-borne pathogens, to investigate the applicability of utilizing Romer Labs' rapid diagnostic test kits to screen for food-borne pathogens and quantify mycotoxins present in cannabis.

"This joint effort is expected to result in the first validated kit-based assays for food-borne pathogen and mycotoxin quality assurance testing on cannabis," says Dr. Cindy Orser, DigiPath Labs' Chief Science Officer. "As more states approve medical marijuana, the importance of validated studies such as this one planned for quality assurance will become of keen interest to officials from state public health departments who are responsible for ensuring the safety of medical marijuana."

During the one-week study, Dr. Orser of DigiPath Labs and two scientists from Romer Labs will execute the validation studies at True North Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where access to marijuana provides the plant matrix to conduct the testing to validate Romer Labs' AgraQuant® Ochratoxin A ELISA System, which is quantitative from 2 to 40 ppb, and its AgraStrip® Aflatoxin Lateral Flow System, which features a 20 ppb aflatoxin cutoff sensitivity, and the fully quantitative AgraStrip® Aflatoxin WATEX test, which utilizes a water-based extraction process. All solutions are capable of quantifying mycotoxins within specifications of Nevada's cannabis quality assurance testing guidelines.

The study team will also validate Romer Labs' AOAC certified RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella and RapidChek® E. Coli O157 test systems for applicability to cannabis safety testing.