Orange Photonics LIGHTLAB - What Does LightLab Measure?

INTRODUCTION
What Does LightLab Measure?
LightLab uses a combination of chromatography (chemical separation based on
molecule polarity) and spectroscopy (light based chemical analysis) to provide accurate
analysis of several components in complex mixtures. Your LightLab is factory calibrated
and will begin providing results directly out of the box for 6 major cannabinoids. The
following is an explanation of the results the LightLab generates along with an example
results screen:
The following is a list of results shown and their meaning:
THCA: Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid. This is the “acidic” form of tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). Cannabis plants naturally produce THCA and is the primary cannabinoid that
will be present in most cannabis strains. Typically, plants have 10-20% THCA. A higher
THCA number means a more potent plant.
Δ9THC: Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the “active” or “neutral” form of THC.
This is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid seen in cannabis plants. Plants do not
directly produce Δ9THC. Instead, THCA is converted into Δ9THC through a process
called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation occurs when the plant is smoked, otherwise
heated or exposed to light. Typically, plants have 0-5% Δ9THC. High levels of Δ9THC in
plant material indicate the plant may not have been stored or cured well or may be old.
Total Potential Δ9THC: This number indicates the total quantity of Δ9THC if the
sample was completely decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the conversion of THCA to
Δ9THC in the presence of heat or light. During the decarboxylation process, a CO2
molecule is released, so a THCA molecule will weigh less once it is converted to Δ9THC.
For that reason, the total “potency”, or how much psychoactive Δ9THC a user would be