Merbein South, Victoria
Contract testing for botanical medicine, built on validated methods.
ALTSA is a TGA-licensed laboratory with validated methods for cannabinoid, contaminant and quality testing — supporting release testing against your specification for cultivators, manufacturers and researchers across the botanical medicine supply chain. All other ALTSA services, including food, agricultural and environmental testing, operate within our NATA-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) laboratory environment.
TGA licensed laboratory
Validated cannabinoid & contaminant methods
Release testing to specification
NATA accredited
One Stop Shop
One laboratory, all you need under one roof
Our botanical medicine testing capability sits alongside broader analytical services, drawing on the same laboratory environment and instrumentation.
Botanical medicine
Cannabinoid potency, contaminant screening and release testing for TGA-licensed cultivators, manufacturers and product sponsors.
Plant tissue & nutrients
Leaf and tissue nutrient analysis, including non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) testing, supporting crop nutrition and cultivation decisions.
Agricultural
Soil, water, feed and produce testing for growers, agronomists and processors in the Sunraysia region and beyond.
Environmental
Water, soil and effluent testing to support monitoring, compliance and site assessment programs.
Food
Compositional, contaminant and microbiological testing supporting FSANZ compliance across the food supply chain.
Botanical medicine testing panel
A full panel covering identification, contaminants and potency — validated to TGO 93 and European Pharmacopoeia requirements, plus additional tests for extracts and finished products.
Identification
Macroscopic / microscopic
Positive identification of the botanical plant material, differentiating it from adulterants and substitutes.
Cannabinoid potency profiling
LC-MS/MS
Quantification of THC, CBD and other active cannabinoids against stated content.
Foreign matter
Macroscopic examination
Inspection for extraneous plant material and other foreign matter, against the Schedule 1 limit.
Water content / loss on drying
Loss on drying (LOD)
Moisture content of the dried plant material — a factor in microbial risk and shelf life, and in patient experience, as product that is too dry is a common source of complaints.
Total ash
Gravimetric
Residual inorganic content of the plant material, against the Schedule 1 limit.
Mycotoxins
LC-MS/MS
Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) and ochratoxin A, against the Schedule 1 limits.
Heavy metals
ICP-MS
Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, against the Schedule 1 limits for plant material and extracts.
Pesticide residues
LC-MS/MS & GC-MS/MS
Multi-residue screening against a defined list of active constituents and reporting limits.
Plant growth regulators
LC-MS/MS
Screening and quantification of plant growth regulator residues against defined reporting limits.
Microbial contamination
Culture
Total viable count, yeast and mould, and targeted pathogen screening including E. coli and Salmonella.
Terpene & aroma testing
HS-GC-MS/MS
Headspace characterisation of the terpene and aroma profile, supporting product specification and strain differentiation.
In development
These tests are in development at ALTSA and not yet commercially available. They're listed here so you know what's coming.
Residual solvents
HS-GC-MS
Screening and quantification for extracts and concentrates produced using solvent-based extraction.
Pathogen screening
qPCR
Targeted molecular pathogen detection, alongside culture-based microbial testing.
From sample to certificate
A consistent, traceable path from enquiry through to an authorised Certificate of Analysis.
1
Enquiry & quote
Tell us the matrix, test panel and turnaround you need. We confirm scope and pricing.
2
Sample submission
Samples arrive with chain-of-custody documentation and are logged against a unique sample ID.
3
Laboratory analysis
Testing proceeds under validated method, with quality controls run alongside each batch.
4
Technical review
Results are checked and authorised by the responsible signatory before release.
5
Certificate issued
A signed Certificate of Analysis is issued to the client for their own records and release decision.
Accreditation & compliance
ALTSA's release testing cannabinoid and contaminant test methods for botanical medicine are developed and validated in-house, with results reported against your product specification. Testing and validation are developed to the TGO 93 and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
All ALTSA testing — including our food, agricultural, plant tissue and environmental services — operates within our NATA-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) laboratory environment. The combination of NATA accreditation and the Therapeutic Goods Administration licence gives you the best of both worlds, and makes ALTSA a reliable testing partner.
As a contract testing laboratory, ALTSA can provide you with release testing results to inform regulatory decisions or so your Qualified Person can progress batch release. Release testing is carried out under a quality agreement with each client, setting out scope, specifications and responsibilities; and maintaining compliance with PIC/S.
Contact Our Friendly Staff
Quotes and Inquiries
03 4014 9760
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