Why Microbial Testing Matters
Building on the full panel testing content discussed elsewhere in this publication, microbial testing checks whether a product carries organisms that could cause spoilage or illness. It is especially important for edibles, beverages, and topicals, where moisture supports growth.
What Labs Look For
Total aerobic count. A general measure of bacteria present.
Yeast and mold. Indicators of spoilage and, for some species, health risk.
Specific pathogens. Organisms such as Salmonella, E. coli, and others that should be absent.
Bile-tolerant bacteria. Often checked in plant-derived material.
How Limits Work
Many standards use count thresholds for general organisms and require absence of named pathogens. As with other categories, limits vary by state and product type.
What a Failing Result Means
- Product should be held and not released, consistent with the batch release content discussed earlier
- An investigation should look for the source, such as raw materials, equipment, water, or handling
- Remediation options depend on the product and rules, and any retest should follow documented procedure rather than retesting until it passes
What Buyers Should Ask
Request microbial results for each batch, the methods used, and how failures are investigated and documented.
Low Gravity Hemp tests every batch for microbial contaminants. Contact us to review sample reports.
