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My new thc potency tester

alltatup

alltatup

New member
I've been looking for a THC potency tester for a while, but the prices have been prohibitive. So every once in a while, I'll get online and search to see if something new has come out. I found the right one (fingers crossed, looks legit) yesterday. This tester is exclusively for THC and will only test buds that are less than 1% CBD; they have another app coming out for hemp.

I looked at a tester that will give the whole cannabinoid/terpinoid profile: it's a thousand bucks with a one year warranty--a little too rich for my blood, and too much expensive shit you have to keep buying. https://www.mydxlife.com/shop/analyzer-kits/mydx-analyzer-canna-kit-growers.html

Another is $419 (to test flower; there's a cheaper one to test infusions) plus another $125 for a supply of the reagent mix. That one only has a 6 month warranty, which makes me very suspicious. Why does PAX put a ten-year warranty on their devices? Cuz they back their own product. https://tcheck.me/product/essentials-plus

Then I found this one: Higrade, https://www.gethigrade.com made in Israel, where in the 1970s Dr. Raphael Mechoulam first isolated some of the major cannabinoids, including THC of course. He also discovered the Endocannabinoid System. Believe it or not, Israel has been on the cutting edge of Cannabis research for decades, and for $72 I'm definitely willing to give it a shot. Yes. I said 72 bucks.

higrade.jpg
hg2.jpg


Let the buyer beware. That's a lesson I've learned buying Cannabis-related equipment, and sometimes the lesson was cheap (but still a waste of my money)--like for a crappy trichome viewer for 10 bucks--, and sometimes not so cheap, I think I was a sucker paying so much for the Ghost MV1 vape; sorry to all who bought it on my recommendation (company now bankrupt). So the best equipment isn't necessarily the most expensive. My Belomo triplet loupe isn't the most expensive, but in my opinion, it's the best. Chikamasa trimmers, same thing: they've totally stayed sharp and outlasted former trimmers. My pH meter is an Apera for 50 bucks. Not a BlueLab, but fast and accurate.

I know some folks on the forum are interested in testing potency, so you can read about the devices I've mentioned and see what you think. I personally am excited as heck about this app. The price covers a one year subscription allowing up to 400 tests per month. Then you renew after a year. You get a 7 buck discount if you buy from their website.

I had to update IOS on my iphone 11; the app only works with 13.4 and above. Also, they list a few android phones it won't work with on their website. I'll report back as soon as mine arrives (already shipped from OR). Happy viewing, folks!!
 
Wow alltatup thanks for sharing. I looked at the website and read the FAQ. Looks and sounds intriguing. I have one of those microscopes. I bought it for $10 at a local independent toy store. It does work well and allows for great close-up pictures. Doesn't work so well on the iPhone 11 pro though. This question seems to be the heart of the matter. I understand about the accuracy of algorithms but still I wonder...

How can you evaluate %THC from a picture?
Over the last few years, we have developed a patent-pending method, by which image analysis algorithms analyze magnified cannabis images to evaluate THC percentages. The magnified cannabis images contain trichomes and other microscopic elements we use to evaluate the potency with. Our patent-pending method is tested with HPLC, regulatory approved labs. Three photos from different areas of the flower are required (to account for in-flower variability), which we then analyze on our secured servers and send the results back to your phone in just a few seconds.
 
My first thought was it is amazing what good tech can do. Hope it works out real well. Is there a comparison to their findings available to you alltatup?. That would be the
proof with a side by side. I believe the sample I had tested used spectral analysis so this seems possible.
 
JohnEmad This page is a little dense, but it does a good job of explaining how their science works: https://www.gethigrade.com/science.php

I'm quite impressed with the explanation, though I have to read it through a couple more times to really get it. I also read all the FAQs, and that clarified a lot. I just can't wait to try it on my little bit of weed that's left from last harvest, and my upcoming harvest. I can hardly sleep.

I just can't help but respect a company that doesn't worship $$$.
 
Thanks a ton for sharing this alltatup! I now have another device I must try! One question I can't seem to find an answer to on their FAQ page is how much is the subscription AFTER the first year? It says you'll automatically revert back to the free version and you can then upgrade to pro but there is no price listed for that. I may end up getting one of these when I have some extra cash! Again, thank you!
 
ellz You're welcome!! I looked and looked for the renewal price and couldn't find it this morning, so I sent an email asking them to make that clearer on the FAQ page. I'll let you know ASAP, but I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that it was 79 per year.
 
MY TESTER ARRIVED YESTERDAY!!! This thing is so awesome.

Higrade 1.JPG


I tested two buds, one from the top and one from lower on the plant, and the result was 17% for the lower bud and what you see above. The accuracy of the Higrade is give or take 3%, which is an industry standard.

What's so good about this app is that I don't need any kind of solution to disolve cannabinoids in--no weighing and measuring with extreme exactitude, which is what is needed for HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography testing). Now you can do things with HPLC that can't be done with Higrade, like get a full terpene spectrum analysis. That's ok with me, I'll save my money and be satisfied with knowing THC percentage.

I can test a few buds on a cola from different places on the cola to see how the light is affecting potency; this will help me to really fine tune how I grow my buds in order to maximize the potency. I never thought I'd be doing this for under $500, so I'm thrilled.
 
I don’t wanna be a hater but I remain skeptical of how it works. Saw online people realized that no matter what you take picture of it’s always on the 15-18% even when they used >1thc buds or pictures of other stuff like tobacco. I would make a lot of experiments if I were you, see if you can get other reading than 15 to 18
 
That's so cool alltatup. Kinda wish we were neighbors LOL nahh I do wish we definitely were neighbors. :) trade ya a canna butter brownie for grading my buds !
 
9fingerleafs None of your examples convinces me. How much of the tested bud was dispensary bud? It better be at least 15-18%!! I see the "It always reads 15-18%" comment posted in various places.

What I'd really like to do is get my hands on some schwag and test it.

You can't use CBD bud with this device, so if the <1%THC bud was high in CBD, it wouldn't give accurate results.
You can't use this app unless the CBD content is <1%.
I'm not surprised that someone would get strange results putting anything else, like tobacco, to the scope.
It's designed for one thing only; the algorithms are designed for one chemical only.

The app's rating on Apple is very high. Some of the people rating it low weren't using it the correct way; it actually seems like most of the negative ratings aren't even about THC percentage.

Here's a situation like what you mention, with Higrade's response:

Never accurate
I have used the kit to test over 40 different strains that I have gotten at the dispensary over the past few months. The results are always within the 15-18%, even if the lab tested results from the state are 25%+. Makes me think that the kit/application will always tell you those numbers, and using the +/- 3% often will get you to to the thc % listed because it fits the puzzle. But it rarely says higher than the 15-18% making me think it is fixed... Would love some feedback, maybe i’m doing something wrong but idts​
Developer Response, Hi Lior1996,
There is a natural variance in potency when it comes to Cannabis flowers. The labels on the packages from the dispensaries are based on batch tests from labs. When labs test samples, they are destroyed in the process, meaning you cannot consume flowers that have been tested. Therefore you cannot assume the flowers you bought have the exact same potency levels as advertised. The potency can vary vastly from flower to flower on a plant because the flowers don't mature all at the same time.
We have users all over the world seeing results from the HiGrade kit as low as 12% and as high as 29% THC. We would love to talk to you more and make sure you are using the HiGrade scope correctly. Please contact us at support@gethigrade.com

This doesn't really surprise me: I already assumed that a lot of cannabis sellers test the bud from the top of the cola so they can put a 25% label on the jar, but that's clearly no guarantee that all the bud in the jar is that potent.

This is the problem for me with HPLC testing: it would be expensive and time-consuming to make tests all over a cola because of the process required for HPLC; and the reagent ain't cheap!!! I wrote to tCheck asking them why you have to use 10ml of reagent for each test if you only end up using 5 drops, and I also asked why the reagent was so expensive. They never answered me.

I buy genetics that are always above 20%; that's most of what I grow; I was delighted and relieved to see that my Shiva Skunk tested at 21%: it means I did it right. I can't wait to test Royal Gorilla (now in flower) and see if I got her up to 27% THC.

​
 
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i see, thats exaclty the comment i saw when i quickly google searched, im glad the company answers and offers support to get accurate predictions, i do understand too that the lab testing industry is tainted and one cannot just simply trust a label. im just very curious like you said, when you taste shitty weed or very premature trichomes or just the same bud over and over just to really get some range of the capabilities and consistency. im in no way trying to convince you, my good friend, of anything but to do a lot of testing and share with the folks :)
 
9fingerleafs And you are my good friend!! If this ends up to be a bust, I'll admit it. But at least it's not a $400 or more bust. I don't want to believe anyone blindly, but you and I both know that there's a lot of hustle and dishonesty in the Cannabis business.
 
alltatup why do you regret paying for the ghost mv1? To be honest I was tempted to get it and after your review I almost did, but I had just bought a couple vaporizers so decided to wait. Guess I’m glad I didn’t get it, mainly because I really really like my DynaVapCap with bong attachments.
 
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