Purpl PRO is the flagship product offering by Purpl Scientific, and the first affordable, accurate, portable potency measurement device for the cannabis industry. The Purpl PRO is a combination of a “laboratory bench” device the size of a Post-It stack and a mobile App that allows users to run the system through a smartphone.

Purpl PRO utilizes near-infrared spectroscopy, which involves shining light on the sample and analyzing the light that is returned. In this part of the light spectrum (just beyond the red light human eyes can see) molecules react to specific regions of the light to generate a “molecular fingerprint” that can be correlated with concentration. The Purpl PRO was calibrated against HPLC measurements from multiple state-certified testing laboratories.

Overall, Purpl states a +/- 2% accuracy on THC and CBD for simplicity. Statistically, it is +/- 1.89% on THC and +/- 0.96% on CBD, determined by comparison with lab HPLC measurements.

In short: nature. Cannabis is a natural product that varies over time and by location. Colas and larf on the same plant are so named because of the difference in their flowers due to location on the plant. Even parts of the same flower generally have different potency at the cola than the lower canopy. As such, we recommend grinding a sample to get an averaged result.

First, make sure you operate the Purpl PRO according to its instructions—they’re fairly straightforward but must be done carefully as the Purpl PRO is still a scientific testing device. Grinding a flower sample is critical to allow proper homogenization of the sample. It is also crucial that seeds, stems, or other non-flower material be avoided, and that the sample chamber is properly filled before compressing with the cap. Beyond these basic setup tips, it is expected that results may vary +/-~2% between readings, which is the error of the predictions.

 Purpl selected the Storz & Bickel Herb Mill grinder for inclusion in the Purpl PRO kit due to its extra sharp teeth. This provides the ability to produce a finer grind, which creates a higher accuracy on test results. Purpl designed the included funnel to allow easier product loading into the Purpl PRO, and the included cleaning brush does a fine job of removing any residual bits from the grinder teeth. If using the previously included SLX Grinder, you may need to grind up the product a little longer to produce a homogenized sample.

For information on how to clean the supplied grinders, please refer to our tech support article here.

Yes, either a WiFi or cell network connection is required for the Purpl PRO to communicate with the cloud servers that compute and store the results. Errors will be shown in the Purpl PRO app if this connection isn’t present.

Yes! Our ethanol-based distillates model is currently in the beta testing phase and will launch in the near future. We’ll release the optional software update and disposable sample cups that can be used with the Purpl PRO to measure a tiny amount (~100 uL) of extract.

No. Infused products contain a number of other ingredients that interfere with the optical measurements.

No. The technology behind the Purpl PRO can only measure down to ~1-2%, and contaminants must be several orders of magnitude lower to be safely consumed.

No. The technology behind the Purpl PRO can only measure down to ~1-2%, and contaminants must be several orders of magnitude lower to be safely consumed.

Purpl PRO is geared specifically towards the cannabis industry. However, the near-infrared technology powering Purpl PRO is used in nearly all manufacturing industries, from big agriculture to pharmaceuticals to food & beverage.

No. Most states name only HPLC or GC as certified methods. The Purpl PRO is not intended to replace mandatory third-party testing of final product and is intended to replace R&D testing which does not require HPLC or GC.

Any time a potency measurement is needed that doesn’t require third-party lab testing. Pheno hunting, optimization of cultivation parameters, R&D testing, transparency during transactions, and many more.

No. Third-party testing is critical to maintaining proper quality assurance in final products. But the Purpl PRO can be used for all cases where third-party testing is NOT required.

Currently, Total THC and Total CBD in cured, ground flower, as well as measurement of moisture and water activity. Soon the Purpl PRO will also allow potency measurement of extracts. Stay tuned!

Both HPLC and GC require a cannabis sample to be dissolved in liquid solvent(s) to strip away the non-cannabinoid substances, then this liquid is pushed through small tubes until an optical sensor records the amount of cannabinoid. Both techniques require continual calibration and cleaning, which necessitate trained operators. Between the cost of the instruments, the solvents, calibration materials, and the personnel, these techniques run well into the tens of thousands of dollars to set up and operate.

The Purpl PRO uses light to measure a ground sample directly, comes with its own calibration module that is indefinitely reusable and done once-per-week, and is usable by anyone. It also fits in a pocket, costs $1,995, and leaves the sample usable after measuring.

In some cases it will, and in others it might not. The reason for this is that different labs generally don’t obtain the same results even from the same flower sample (several published reports show this variation). Depending on the exact procedures your lab uses, the alignment of the Purpl PRO results with your lab may differ. But even if the Purpl PRO provides a different absolute result than your lab, it can still be used for comparisons between flowers, establishing trends in potency, pheno- hunting, etc.