CTS-300 HPLC Analyzer · In-House Potency Testing
Test your own cannabis, hemp, and botanical products in-house for under $5 per sample. 15-cannabinoid panel. Results verified against NIST standards and 140+ accredited North American labs. Operate like a certified professional laboratory — at a fraction of the cost.
CTS-300 at a Glance
The Problem
Every batch you send out is a line item that never gets smaller — and a delay you can't control.
What labs cost you
What the CTS-300 gives you
ROI Calculator
Enter your current testing volume and lab cost to see how quickly the CTS-300 pays for itself.
Instrument cost: $18,000. Consumables estimated at $4/test (mobile phase, column wear, standards). Results are estimates — actual savings vary by volume and local lab pricing.
Everything Included
The CTS-300 ships as a fully equipped system. No separate equipment purchases, no separate software licensing, no guesswork.
Compact benchtop unit with UV/Vis detector (180–680 nm), reciprocating pump (0–6,300 psi), temperature-controlled column compartment. 18 × 9 × 10.5 inch footprint.
150 × 4.6 mm C18 stainless steel analytical column with 5 µm packing. Guard column included to extend analytical column life.
Electronic analytical balance for accurate sample weighing. Included — no separate purchase needed to get started.
All glassware, syringes, autopipettes, PPE, and HPLC-grade solvents. Everything in the box, ready to run your first sample.
Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for all 15 cannabinoids, NIST-traceable. The same reference materials used by ISO-accredited labs.
Intuitive software with peak autodetection and quantification. Includes a full Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS): sample receiving, customer log, maintenance log, auditable calibration, QC tracking, and customizable COA report generation.
Proven, tested, and validated test methods for flower, concentrate, edible, tincture, and topical matrices. Calibration curves and sample preparation protocols included.
Remote video training sessions with our application chemist. Easy-to-follow instructions get your team proficient quickly, regardless of prior HPLC experience.
Ongoing support from chemists with expertise in both HPLC instrument operation and cannabinoid testing. Not a call centre — direct access to technical specialists.
Sample Report
Every test generates a branded, audit-ready COA with your logo. Shareable with distributors, regulators, and customers.
| Compound | Full Name | Result (%, w/w) | mg/g of sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Δ9-THCA | (-)-trans-Δ9-THC acid A | 23.23 | 232.32 |
| Δ9-THC | (-)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol | 0.40 | 3.97 |
| CBDA | Cannabidiolic acid | 2.59 | 25.94 |
| CBG | Cannabigerol | 0.25 | 2.54 |
| Δ8-THC | (-)-Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| THCV | Tetrahydrocannabivarin | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| CBD | Cannabidiol | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| CBDV | Cannabidivarin | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| CBN | Cannabinol | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| CBC | (±) Cannabichromene | <0.03 | <0.3 |
| Total Cannabinoids | 26.48 | 264.76 | |
| Total Potential THC | Δ9-THC + THCA × 0.877 | 20.78 | 207.76 |
| Total Potential CBD | CBD + CBDA × 0.877 | 2.28 | 22.76 |
Applications
The CTS-300 handles any plant-based product where potency, purity, or label accuracy matters.
THC, CBD, and minor cannabinoids. Pre-harvest to packaged product.
Distillates, live resin, rosin, wax, shatter. High-potency matrices.
Gummies, chocolates, baked goods. Homogeneity testing across batches.
MCT oil, ethanol, glycerin matrices. Verify label potency before shipment.
Confirm <0.3% THC compliance. Full 15-cannabinoid panel.
Creams, balms, patches. Potency and label verification.
Alkaloid quantification in emerging botanical markets.
Chemotype screening, cross comparison, and new cultivar development.
15-Cannabinoid Panel
One injection quantifies all major and minor cannabinoids. No method switching required. LOD: 0.03 µg/mL (30 ppb, 0.000003%).
| Cannabinoid | Full Name | Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Δ9-THCA | (-)-trans-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid A | Primary | 0.03 – 35% |
| Δ9-THC | (-)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol | Primary | 0.03 – 30% |
| CBDA | Cannabidiolic Acid | Primary | 0.03 – 25% |
| CBD | Cannabidiol | Primary | 0.03 – 25% |
| Δ8-THC | (-)-Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol | Minor | 0.03 – 5% |
| THCV | Tetrahydrocannabivarin | Minor | 0.03 – 2% |
| Δ9-THCVA | Tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid | Minor | 0.03 – 2% |
| CBG | Cannabigerol | Minor | 0.03 – 3% |
| CBGA | Cannabigerolic Acid | Minor | 0.03 – 5% |
| CBDV | Cannabidivarin | Minor | 0.03 – 2% |
| CBDVA | Cannabidivarinic Acid | Minor | 0.03 – 1% |
| CBN | Cannabinol | Minor | 0.03 – 2% |
| CBC | (±) Cannabichromene | Minor | 0.03 – 3% |
| CBL | (±)-Cannabicyclol | Minor | 0.03 – 1% |
| CBN-O | Cannabinol Acetate | Minor | 0.03 – 1% |
Accuracy You Can Defend
We participated in the NIST Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance Program — a study comparing results across approximately 140 laboratories across North America. Here's how the CTS-300 performed against certified reference values and the lab mean.
| Cannabinoid | CTInstruments CTS-300 | Mean of ~140 Labs | NIST Reference Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Δ9-THC | 0.0467% | 0.0372% | 0.0415% |
| THCA | 0.1067% | 0.0911% | 0.109% |
| CBD | 0.5367% | 0.517% | 0.584% |
| CBDA | 1.607% | 1.330% | 1.560% |
| Total THC | 0.1403% | 0.111% | 0.137% |
| Total CBD | 1.947% | 1.700% | 1.970% |
NRC Hemp — Certified Reference Material Study. CTInstruments results consistently closer to NIST certified values than the mean of 140 participating laboratories.
All calibration uses NIST-traceable Certified Reference Materials — the same standards required by ISO-accredited testing laboratories.
Recognized as Best Testing Technology by Cannabis Business Times. Independently judged against competitive submissions.
Quantitative RSD ≤0.5%, qualitative RSD ≤0.2%. Results you can stake your label on.
Operating in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. Calibrated for local regulatory frameworks.
Technical Specifications
Pharmaceutical-grade HPLC in a compact benchtop format designed for the QC lab — not a research institution with a dedicated methods team.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Instrument Type | Reverse-Phase HPLC with UV/Vis Detector |
| Detector | UV/Vis, 180–680 nm wavelength range |
| Pump Type | Reciprocating pump, 0.001–5 mL/min flow rate |
| Flow Accuracy | ≤ ±1% |
| Maximum Pressure | 6,300 psi |
| Column | C18, stainless steel body, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size |
| Guard Column | C18 cartridge — included |
| Column Compartment | Temperature-controlled |
| Cannabinoids Quantified | 15 (full panel — see Cannabinoids section) |
| LOD | 0.03 µg/mL (30 ppb, 0.000003%) |
| Qualitative Repeatability (RSD) | ≤ 0.2% (Naphthalene/Methanol standards) |
| Quantitative Repeatability (RSD) | ≤ 0.5% |
| Dimensions | 18 × 9 × 10.5 inches (compact benchtop) |
| Software | CTI HPLC Software — local and cloud-hosted versions available |
| LIMS | Full Laboratory Information Management System included — sample receiving, customer log, maintenance log, auditable calibration & method validation, QC, customizable COA generation |
| Reference Standards | NIST-traceable Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for all 15 cannabinoids |
| Laboratory Balance | High-precision electronic balance — included |
| Method Validation | Validated test methods with calibration curves and sample prep protocols for multiple matrices |
| SOPs | Tested and validated Standard Operating Procedures — included |
| Power | 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz (universal) |
| Shipping | Worldwide — contact for freight quote |
Global Reach
Wherever cannabis and hemp are legal for testing, the CTS-300 ships. Local regulatory support available in most markets.
Canada
United States
Mexico
United Kingdom
Germany
Netherlands
Switzerland
Austria
Czech Republic
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Australia
New Zealand
Israel
Japan
Thailand
South Africa
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
IndiaSupport
Every CTS-300 comes with dedicated application chemist support — experts in both HPLC operation and cannabinoid testing.
Remote video sessions to configure your instrument, validate your method, and process your first samples alongside our chemists.
Comprehensive documentation covering sample prep, troubleshooting, method development, and column maintenance for every matrix.
Direct access to application chemists — not a call centre. Responses within 24 hours, typically same business day.
Software and method updates as cannabinoid regulations evolve. Your method stays current without additional licensing costs.
Ready to take control?
The CTS-300 is $18,000 — complete system, fully supported, with LIMS included. For most manufacturers testing ≥ 20 samples per month, it pays back in under a year.
Did you know?
CTInstruments developed an innovative HPLC-based method that overcomes the classic interference problem between cannabinoids and terpenes — something conventional HPLC systems can't do. The same CTS-300 can profile 28 major terpenes in cannabis flower.
Terpene data is increasingly demanded by premium buyers and regulators alike. Know your myrcene, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, limonene and more — all from the same benchtop instrument, without GC equipment.
Ask Us About Terpene Testing28 Terpenes Quantified