Science amp; Tech|Cannabis research on the evolving science behind its effects and the latest technology news. Science amp; Tech MyDx Analyzer: A Cannabis Testing Lab That Can Fit in Your Back Pocket Chase Scheinbaum Daniel Yazbeck pinches the end of a pre-rolled joint pushing a Tic-Tacsized crumb of cannabis out of the end. He slides open a port on a handheld plastic device called the MyDx analyzer loads the sampleinside and three and a half minutes later we know nearly everything about it except the name of the grower. Inside the device a series of sensors known as an electronic nose did their thing using technology developed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab to detect chemicals in space to analyze the flowers content of THC CBD CBN THCa and CBDa cannabinoids as well as more than 20 terpenes. Youre sniffing it says Yazbeck the founder and CEO of the San Diego-based CDx Inc. and a former scientist at Pfizer. Pesticides are a growing concern and its impossible to ignore impurities and residual solvents like butane or hexane used in extraction. The Bluetooth-enabled battery-powered analyzer beams the results to a smartphone app (available for iPhone and Android). Its interface shows you the samples chemical profile tells you which strains it resembles how it might make you feel and the symptoms it may relieve. After you consume the cannabis you can track how it actually made you feel so that youll have an idea of whether future samples will relieve your insomnia glue your behind to the couch or what. You now have a profile for that sample which can be looked up later printed or shared on social media. Every sample generates a unique fingerprint Yazbeck explains. Theres no other tool that will do all this. At $699which includes the MyDx analyzer a cannabis-specific sensor and the smartphone appthe device isnt cheap. But it beats the $50000 price tag on lab equipment normally used for analysis. Its a no-brainer for the investment says Yazbeck a slight bearded energetic man. After all MyDx could prove handy to more than just patients and recreational consumers. It could be a convenient part of business for growers dispensary owners distributors and cannabusiness operators at every level. RELATED STORY Terpenes: The Flavors of Cannabis Aromatherapy The analyzers focus on chemical composition means it cant identify a strain definitively. But knowing its Banana Kush is probably less useful than knowing that particular samples true makeup anyhow. We dont believe in names we believe in chemical profiles Yazbeck says. Detecting cannabidiol (CBD) is a current weakness in the product Yazbeck points out: In its current version the sensor cannot detect more than 1 percent of CBD in a sample. Even if the content is higher the reading will max out at 1 percent. That could be frustrating for some consumers especially medical patients who rely on CBD for treatment. Though the cannabis sensor (a removable nose) is warrantied for just six months Yazbeck says hes seen them last longer than three years and 3000 tests. If theres a problem we typically replace the sensor itself a $69.95 part he says. The MyDx smartphone app generates a chemical fingerprint for each cannabis sample even suggesting similar strains. (Image courtesy of CDx Inc.) Cannabis profiles are just one of the analyzers functions. Pop in a different sensor and youve got another electronic nose capable of sniffing out the purity of water the composition of air or contaminants on organic produce. But lets stick with cannabis because youre wondering the following: What about pesticides? Heavy metals? And can this thing test concentrates? Amazingly the answers are yes yes and yes. As savvy consumers know theres more to worry about than potency or picking the right strain. Pesticides are a growing concern and its impossible to ignore impurities and residual solvents like butane or hexane used in extraction. Because Mm smells like blueberries and propanol is not a review youre looking for. Thats the whole point of the product says Yazback to empower consumers to trust and verify what they put into their body. RELATED STORY Oregon Halts Sale of 14 Grow Products Due to Unlabeled Pesticides (Despite the confusing array of product names on the companys site the gear is simple: The analyzer accepts a different sensor each for cannabis air water and organic matter. Each sensor except the one for cannabis which is included sell separately for $69.95.) Slap in the OrganaDx sensor and youre equipped to test cannabis or a strawberry for that matter for pesticides and heavy metals. The app will give the sample (analyzed by a different means than the electronic nose) a pass or fail only. And yes youll need to shell out for a separate sensor if you want to analyze for pesticides and heavy metals; that feature isnt included in the included cannabis sensor. The air sensor AeroDx is the ticket for sussing out pure extracts of any consistency such as rosin or shatter. The analyzer displays the content of volatile organic compounds though it doesnt break down the results into specific VOCs. Heres where growers may drool: The air sensor can detect temperature humidity and carbon dioxide content letting cultivators know when its time to harvest and turning what used to be a full-on lab test into a minutes-long task via handheld device. For a grower its a must Yazbeck says. What it delivers in convenience the MyDx lacks in firepower; the device is not more accurate than full-on lab tests as Yazbeck puts it. We sacrifice accuracy for simplicity and ease of use to consumers.The labs will typically always be more accurate than handheld secondary tools. RELATED STORY Growing Organic Cannabis at Home The analyzer also cant do ediblesso dont expect to squish a gummy bear inside and get an accurate reading. On its site MyDx posts (unpaid unsponsored) user reviews from social media and its online store. One user Francis Janik posted that We compared the results from the DX to gas chromatography and found it to be very close. Another user Patrick King commenting on Facebook wrote: The reports and informative information on the app is WAY more than you get with your local lab reports. Kingadded that he compared MyDx results to standard lab tests and found the results within 10 15 accuracy of lab reports. Last quarter the company reported $280000 in sales. Yazbeck estimates nearly half of that came from commercial growers with the remaining half split between dispensaries consumers and home growersan indication of just who might find the product most useful. Unless technology improves dramatically (were looking at you NASA!) the MyDx is not likely to replace standard lab tests but could offer pretty remarkable results to anyone who doesnt have space in their living room for a $50000 home labor doesnt have the time or cash for those tests. Chase Scheinbaum Chase Scheinbaum is a journalist who has written about rosin for Bloomberg Businessweek and about other things for Village Voice Men's Journal Thrillist Backpacker and other publications. Hes a writer-at-large for The Inertia and Fatherly. His superpower is speaking Danish. Recent Articles Can CBD and THC in Cannabis be Used for Glaucoma Treatment? Longest Strike in Colombias History Dries Up Bogots Cannabis Supply Dont Laugh. Rectal Suppositories Could Be the Future of Medicinal Cannabis. Colorado Springs Orders Nine Cannabis Social Clubs to Shutter Remembering Bill Murrays Cannabis Arrest (and the Delightful Career That Followed) Related Stories Cannabis 101 Pesticides 101: Questions and Answers for Cannabis Patients and Consumers Science amp; Tech Is This the Medical Marijuana Vaporizer of Tomorrow? Cannabis 101 Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes The post MyDx Analyzer: A Cannabis Testing Lab That Can Fit in Your Back Pocket appeared first on Leafly. by Chase Scheinbaum at Leafly