Orange Photonics of New London, NH makes LightLab 3 portable HPLC cannabis potency analyzers for in house testing of flower, concentrates and edibles.
Orange Photonics, Inc. is a New London, New Hampshire company that makes the LightLab line of portable cannabis potency analyzers built on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The company says it has provided cannabinoid analysis since 2015 and designs its instruments for non technical users; founder Dylan Wilks was named a MassChallenge finalist with the first LightLab in 2015.
Orange Photonics released the LightLab 3 in August 2020 as its next generation portable HPLC analyzer. The current lineup includes the LightLab 3 Cannabis Analyzer, the LightLab 3 High Sensitivity (HS), the LightLab 3 BEV, law enforcement editions, and psychedelics and PsyCanna analyzers. Urth & Fyre lists LightLab units when operators sell them and sources new units on request.
The current LightLab 3 page lists 14 cannabinoids, including delta 9 THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBG, CBGA, THCV, delta 8 THC and delta 10 THC. An optional module adds four hemp derived compounds, and a hemp compliance mode reports total potential THC across a dry plant range of 0.05 to 0.3 percent. The LightLab 3 HS, launched in November 2022, lists 18 cannabinoids with detection down to 1.7 parts per million.
Listed sample types include plant, concentrates, biomass, young plant, processed waste, tinctures, isolate and infused products. In August 2023 Orange Photonics said the HS handles all types of cannabis infused edibles and beverages.
Growers use in house potency to time harvests and screen genetics before sending samples out. Hemp operators get a direct read against the 0.3 percent total THC line. Pair it with your state lab results so you know how your unit tracks.
In extraction, a LightLab checks crude, distillate, isolate and tinctures between steps, so a bad batch gets caught before it moves downstream. Confirm with your regulator which in house results you may use and which tests must come from a licensed lab.
Infused product makers should look at the HS, which Orange Photonics says handles all types of cannabis infused edibles and beverages, and ask about the LightLab 3 BEV for drink lines. Low dose matrices are where detection limits matter most.
A benchtop HPLC stack offers wider method flexibility but typically requires a trained analyst, method development and dedicated lab space. A LightLab runs a fixed workflow with simple solvent extraction and on screen guidance based on the sample type you select. Orange Photonics states that typical LightLab results fall within 2 percent of a lab result for flower and 3 percent for concentrates; verify that against your own reference samples.
An outside lab remains the source of record for compliance testing. The LightLab's advantage is turnaround: results in minutes on site instead of days. Our portable analyzer vs turnkey HPLC decision matrix compares cost per result, risk and throughput, and the cannabis testing lab equipment guide places potency alongside microbial and in process QC.
Urth & Fyre lists LightLab analyzers when operators upgrade or close, and sources new Orange Photonics units on request. Before buying any used unit, ask for its calibration date and sample count, since the Orange Photonics calibration service resets the clock at 1,000 tests or one year and uses Cerilliant certified reference standards. The LightLab FAQ covers accuracy and training, and the 2023 HS release details edibles capability.
On a used analyzer, confirm the module list and HS status in the unit's software, since upgrades are sold separately, and check that the scale and sample shaker that ship with a new kit are in the box. If your lab has moved to a benchtop system or you are closing a site, you can sell your LightLab through Urth & Fyre, and we will list it with its calibration record.
Urth & Fyre recently sold a LightLab 3. Request a quote and we will source another used unit or a new Orange Photonics analyzer.
How accurate is the LightLab 3?
Orange Photonics states that typical LightLab results fall within 2 percent of a lab result for flower and 3 percent for concentrates. The analyzer uses HPLC, the same technology most testing labs use. Accuracy depends on calibration and sample prep, so check a used unit against samples with known lab results before using it for production decisions.
How long does a LightLab 3 test take?
A LightLab 3 test takes about 10 minutes. The datasheet lists an 8.5 minute measurement with a 2 minute zero, and sample prep uses a simple solvent extraction. That works out to roughly six results per hour per analyzer, which is enough for in process checks across a typical extraction or cultivation shift.
What cannabinoids does the LightLab 3 test?
The current LightLab 3 lists 14 cannabinoids, including delta 9 THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBG, CBGA, THCV, delta 8 THC and delta 10 THC. The LightLab 3 High Sensitivity model lists 18 cannabinoids with detection down to 1.7 parts per million, and supports edibles and beverages.
How often does a LightLab need calibration?
Orange Photonics recommends calibration every 1,000 samples or 12 months, whichever comes first. The unit ships to Orange Photonics in New London, New Hampshire, where the service uses Cerilliant certified reference standards. The store lists calibration at $1,250, and return ground shipping is included for US and Canadian customers.
Can the LightLab 3 replace state compliance testing?
No. A LightLab supports in house decisions such as harvest timing, in process checks and release support, while state compliance testing still runs through licensed labs. Rules on what in house data can be used for vary by state, so confirm with your regulator before building a workflow around portable potency results.
Where can I buy a used LightLab 3?
Urth & Fyre lists used Orange Photonics LightLab 3 analyzers when operators sell them; request a quote and we will source one. Urth & Fyre can also source a new unit. Before buying used, get the calibration date, sample count and module list, and ask Orange Photonics about warranty transfer.