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CBD CBD Seed Breeders: How to test for CBD or THC at home

Discussion in 'Medical Marijuana Usage and Applications' started by menthoco, May 19, 2015.

  1. Here are two simple and easy tests for either THC, or CBD.
    Code:
    These tests are not as sensitive or accurate as labs, but they providea quick test to see if some bud has significant amounts of either THC, or CBD.   If done carefully, a person can figure out which sample has more CBD or THC.  This is exactly what CBD strain breeders need to quickly vet their plants, to find the high CBD plant, without needing expensive lab costs.  After a good plant is found with these tests,a lab test may be used to see what you have found.  Beam Test (for CBD, but not THC):  A 5% solution of potassium hydroxide in 95% ethanol (grain alcohol), will turn deep purple for high CBD strains.  This will not turn purple for THC.Duquenois Test (for THC, but not CBD):A 2% solution of vanillin in 95% ethanol, will turn blue for high THCstrains, but not for CBD only strains.  The vanillin solution isadded to the sample, and shaken for a minute.  Then add an equal amountof concentrated hydrochloric acid, and wait for the blue color. Vanillin is the pure chemical which gives vanilla extract it's wonderfulsmell.   With these two tests, industrious CBD breeders should be able to morequickly find high CBD strains.   Both use very low cost and easilyobtained chemicals.  The Beam test was used by my friend to find Sozofrom seeds he grew. It works well!I did test both of these, using either Sozo (hi CBD), or Chem Dawg (hiTHC), to verify these tests work.   I was not aware the duquenois test was specific for only THC, but when done with Sozo, it did not turn color,while the Chem Dawg turned a beautiful blue color.   Both of these tests require the sample to be decarboxylated, or elsethe test will not work.   Wrap flower material in aluminum foil, androast in an oven at 100C or 200F, for 60 minutes.  I have tried bothtests, and they work best with decarb'd samples.  Best wishes to all who would use these tests to further the CBD strainsavailable!  They are NEEDED!!

     
    • Like Like x 1
  2. I will give this a shot along side cannalabs and full spectrum to see how accurate this is for grower/breeders that aren't able to take their plants to a local lab. Thank you for this nfo
     
  3.  
    I left off the details of doing the test procedure.   As long as you use consistent amounts (weighed), and volumes (measured with syringe), the results should be repeatable.   But if you go by eye, things may not work as well, due to inaccuracies. 
     
    Also, these tests work well for high levels of CBD or THC, say above 2%.   But low levels may be difficult to see by eye.   The test procedure may be tweeked to increase the low end sensitivity (like test a larger quantity, to increase concentration of THC or CBD in solution).  
     
    Lastly, the "duquenois" test seen in textbooks also calls for acetaldehyde, usually called the "duquenois-levine test".   But there is a test found here which doesn't use acetaldhyde, and is called the "Duquenois" reagent.   This test only responded to THC, but not CBD. That is where I found this test, which is described above.  I suspect someone may be able to make this using vanilla extract, instead of lab grade vanillin - but I haven't checked that!
     
    For accuracy, I usually dissolve a weighed amount of cannabis, in a measured volume of hexane (pet ether or naphtha).   Then I add a measured volume of that solution to the test reagent (also a measured volume).  Everything is weighed (or volume measured), and used the same way each time, for consistent results everytime.    
     
    It's a several hour drive to/from CannLabs for me, so these tests give me quicker results :)
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  4. I did observe when using the Duquenois test, the non-THC samples (CBD, CBDa, THCa) produced a faint pink color. 
     
    Literature for the Duquenois test says a positive test can be violet, blue, or grey.  
     
    For THC, it turns blue - PERIOD. 
     
    But for CBD, CBDa, or THCa,, it can also produce a pink color, which if THC exists, will yield a violet color. 
     
    If any blue occurs (blue, violet, green?), there is blue in the mix, indicating THC.
     
  5. #5 King Solomon, Jun 19, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2015
    Same here, the drive puts me out.

    (High Country)-King Solomon Genetics

    Edit: wish the labs would roll through to grab samples, they're more fit for handling them on the ride I'm sure
     
  6. Have the tests been removed? I am very interested in the THC test method. I plan to test some high CBD strains for both CBD and THC at home before spending the money on an actual lab test. Thanks
     
  7. These tests are not as sensitive or accurate as labs, but they providea quick test to see if some bud has significant amounts of either THC, or CBD. If done carefully, a person can figure out which sample has more CBD or THC. This is exactly what CBD strain breeders need to quickly vet their plants, to find the high CBD plant, without needing expensive lab costs. After a good plant is found with these tests,a lab test may be used to see what you have found. Beam Test (for CBD, but not THC): A 5% solution of potassium hydroxide in 95% ethanol (grain alcohol), will turn deep purple for high CBD strains. This will not turn purple for THC.Duquenois Test (for THC, but not CBD):A 2% solution of vanillin in 95% ethanol, will turn blue for high THCstrains, but not for CBD only strains. The vanillin solution isadded to the sample, and shaken for a minute. Then add an equal amountof concentrated hydrochloric acid, and wait for the blue color. Vanillin is the pure chemical which gives vanilla extract it's wonderfulsmell. With these two tests, industrious CBD breeders should be able to morequickly find high CBD strains. Both use very low cost and easilyobtained chemicals. The Beam test was used by my friend to find Sozofrom seeds he grew. It works well!I did test both of these, using either Sozo (hi CBD), or Chem Dawg (hiTHC), to verify these tests work. I was not aware the duquenois test was specific for only THC, but when done with Sozo, it did not turn color,while the Chem Dawg turned a beautiful blue color. Both of these tests require the sample to be decarboxylated, or elsethe test will not work. Wrap flower material in aluminum foil, androast in an oven at 100C or 200F, for 60 minutes. I have tried bothtests, and they work best with decarb'd samples. Best wishes to all who would use these tests to further the CBD strainsavailable! They are NEEDED!!
     
  8. Thanks. So does this look about right for the THC test. Let me know if I got anything wrong.


    THC Test


    Step 1: Dissolve 1 grams of vanillin powder into 50 ml of pure grain alcohol. This will make a 2% solution.


    Step 2: Decarboxylate a 1 gram sample of flower by wrapping flower in aluminum foil and cooking in the oven at 200 degrees fahrenheit for 1 hour.


    Step 3: Crush decarboxylated flower sample into a fine powder, and mix in with the 2% vanillin solution and shake for a minute.


    Step 4: Add an equal amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid(50 ml) to the mixture.


    Step 5: Wait for solution to turn blue.


    The color of the solution should change a blue color if there are THC levels of approximately 2%>.


    The darker the blue color present will represent higher THC levels is present in the cannabis flower you are testing.


    Very low levels of THC might be hard to distinguish color change by sight. But even the slightest indication of blue color represents a small amount of THC.

    ?
     
  9. I am not sure, I was just posting it so we all could read it like normal
    Did not realize it was a 2 yr old thread
    Never saw this method before, sorry.
    Post back if it works I am sure people will be interested for sure.
    Maybe @PsychedelicSam may chime in and that a look see.
    It is right up his alley
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Hang because he answers pretty quick if he is online
     
  11. Check back he is not on now
    Good luck
    would be interested if this works at all
     
  12. Too be honest I am not sure this will even work
    Might be better to take to a lab not that expensive if you have one avail
     
  13. yea i still plan on taking to a lab. but if this would work i could test different plant at home then pick the ones that seem to have the highest CBD and lowest THC and then just test those ones in the lab for exact percentages instead of testing a whole bunch of samples at the lab, might be pricey. Thanks though for your input.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  14. I was looking into some home test kits that are similar but then the lab opened down the street and I didn't need it anymore. This will work for giving you an idea of what's going on and for some things it can work as well as a lab. If you've got the correct chemical skills to do it, then give it a try.

    It's similar to Thin Layer Chromatography. The tests kits were from Alpha-Cat and they included reagents for all the cannabinoids and the color coding. :)
    https://www.alpha-cat.org/the-test/how-it-works/
     
    • Like Like x 2
  15. Your decarb should be 240°F for 40 minutes for the best THC results. Any less and you'll have more THCA which won't show on your guide. :)
     
    • Like Like x 2
  16. Thanks Sam
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. I know this is an older thread, but I hope you are still following it. You state the following:

    Step 4: Add an equal amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid(50 ml) to the mixture.

    What is the concentration?
     
  18. Wmoon518, and others wonder what the "equal amount of hydrochloric acid" means?

    Sorry for a long nap from reading this old thread. When I wrote that, I was only providing the info that I had found myself, and worked up my own details (measurements & techniques) on how this test works. The THC test was (is?) a commercial test, which I got the info on.

    The THC test was based upon commercial LEO drug tests, and named NARCOTEST. It is a full field spectrum test for many different drugs. Their THC test ampoules contain the following ingredients:
    Ampoule #1: 0.5 mL 2% vanillin in alcohol
    Ampoule #2: 0.5 mL concentrated hydrochloric acid

    There are your "equal amounts".

    This test responds to THC, but NOT CBD.
     

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