Vitamin E acetate testing
Vitamin E acetate is a diluent that nobody should find in an inhaled product, and its presence is the single most consequential adulteration question in the vape market. We screen for it by LC-MS/MS, alongside the other common cutting agents.
- Pricing
- Quote on request
- Turnaround
- 5–7 business days
- Family
- Analyte panel
Contact us to confirm the sample matrix, analytical scope and price before shipping.
- Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole
- Agilent 8890 GC with 5977 MSD
- Agilent 1290 Infinity II UHPLC
Purchased new through authorised channels, performance-qualified by certified engineers, and the instrument ID prints on every certificate. View the bench.
What the panel measures
| Test | Method | Instrument | Reports as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin E acetate | MethodLC-MS/MS, MRM against reference standard | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole | Reports asDetected or not detected, ppm, LOQ 5 ppm |
| Medium chain triglycerides | MethodLC-MS/MS screen | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole | Reports asDetected or not detected, % w/w |
| Propylene glycol | MethodHeadspace GC-MS | InstrumentAgilent 8890 GC with 5977 MSD | Reports as% w/w |
| Polyethylene glycol | MethodLC-MS/MS screen | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole | Reports asDetected or not detected |
| Squalene and other diluents | MethodLC-MS/MS screen | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole | Reports asDetected or not detected |
| Cannabinoid potency | MethodHPLC-UV, paired on the same sample | InstrumentAgilent 1290 Infinity II UHPLC | Reports as% w/w, shows the dilution mass balance |
Sample requirements and shipping
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Vape cartridge | Requirement1 cart, unopened |
| Distillate or oil | Requirement1 g sealed |
| Disposable device | Requirement1 device, unopened |
| Condition | RequirementRoom temperature. Note the fill weight so we can report per cartridge. |
Confirm the scope and quote before shipping. Shipping instructions follow the agreed testing order. We accept no walk-in drop-off, and we hold no DEA registration, so no Schedule I to V material.
Why the method matters
Pairing the diluent screen with potency gives a mass balance. When cannabinoids account for far less of the mass than the label implies, something is making up the difference, and that is worth identifying before a product ships.
Detection at 5 ppm is well below any level at which a diluent would be used functionally, so a not-detected result is a meaningful answer rather than an artefact of a blunt method.
What comes back
A public certificate
Every result, the method, the instrument ID, the LOD and LOQ and the signature, verifiable by accession number with no login.
The filmed route
Your package opened on camera, a photograph of each container, and the footage retained for three years. Released to you on request.
A retained sample
Held 90 days, so any result can be rechecked by us or by an accredited laboratory of your choosing.
Questions about vitamin e acetate testing
Is vitamin E acetate still a real risk?
It is far less common than in 2019, but it still appears in unregulated supply. A buyer asking for the screen is asking a reasonable question, and it is cheap to answer.
What does a not-detected result mean?
That the analyte is below 5 ppm, our limit of quantitation, which prints on the certificate. It is not a claim of absolute absence, and no honest laboratory will make one.
Can I run this with potency?
Yes, on the same submitted cartridge, and the combination is more informative than either alone because of the mass balance.
Do you screen other cutting agents?
MCT oil, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and squalene are included. If you suspect something else, tell us and we will say whether we hold a standard for it.
Confirm testing scope
Order in the builder, pay, and a prepaid label is emailed to you. The certificate publishes to the database the moment it is signed.