Hemp Seed Testing Update Effective February 2022

We now require that all hemp samples sent to the ISU Seed Laboratory for testing be accompanied by a lab certificate which indicates that the THC levels of the seed are 0.3% or less. This is a requirement of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and other government agencies.

If a germination test is requested, we need a minimum of 400 seeds (preferably 800-1000 in case a retest is needed). This is a destructive test and you will not get the seeds back. For a physical purity analysis; a minimum of 50 grams is required, this is a nondestructive test. For a Noxious Weed exam for the U.S. or a region within the U.S., a minimum of 500 grams is required; this is a nondestructive test.

Submitted samples must be representative of the lot. For phytosanitary testing, the size of the sample should be determined by your official sampler. Reminder: to obtain a phytosanitary certificate, the sample must be officially sampled. Many of the phytosanitary tests we conduct are destructive; you will not get seeds back. Many countries require seed to be free from Orobanche and Striga; detecting these require a destructive test as well as any tests for fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens.