Broughton Expands Accredited Cannabinoid Testing

An independent partner in regulated life sciences

Broughton is an independent UK-based life sciences contract research organisation and scientific consultancy, supporting companies operating in highly regulated markets where confidence in data is critical. From its GMP-compliant, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories in Lancashire and North Yorkshire, the company provides analytical testing and regulatory support to clients across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consumer health and emerging life science sectors, working with organisations at every stage of the product lifecycle.

Over nearly two decades, Broughton has built its reputation on scientific rigour, regulatory credibility and transparency, combining in-house analytical capability with regulatory and scientific insight. This integrated approach has positioned the company as a trusted partner for organisations navigating complex development pathways and increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Expanding accredited cannabinoid analytics

Broughton has begun 2026 with the introduction of ISO/IEC 17025-accredited analytical methods for the quantitative determination of cannabinoids in oils and tinctures, marking a significant expansion of its capabilities in one of the life sciences sector’s most technically demanding and closely scrutinised areas. The methods, based on high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), also apply to selected e-liquids and reflect the growing need for accredited measurement as cannabinoid product formats continue to evolve.

Oils and tinctures have diversified rapidly in both concentration and formulation complexity, driven by innovation across medicinal, wellness and adjacent regulated markets. In these oil-based matrices, cannabinoid content can vary depending on raw material source, extraction technique and intended application, making reliable quantification essential for product characterisation, quality assurance and regulatory documentation.

Analytical approach and measurement range

Broughton’s accredited approach involves dilution of the oil or tincture in solvent, followed by quantitative analysis using calibration curves and internal standard correction to support accuracy. Results can be reported in multiple formats, including milligrams per millilitre, percentage concentration, or milligrams per container, with quantification of Total THC and Total CBD available. This flexibility supports a range of requirements, from formulation development and batch verification through to regulatory submissions.

The method also accommodates defined analytical ranges aligned to product strength. For formulations containing up to 20 per cent CBD, quantitation is supported from approximately 2.5 mg/g to 245 mg/g, while higher-strength products above 20 per cent CBD can be measured from around 8 mg/g to beyond 800 mg/g. This enables consistent, accredited measurement across both lower- and higher-dose oils and tinctures.

Supporting confidence in formulation and compliance

For Development Scientist Rowan Baxendale, the significance lies in the confidence such data provides. The availability of validated, accredited cannabinoid measurement in oil-based products strengthens the evidence base that informs formulation decisions, quality control processes and regulatory compliance, particularly in a market where analytical robustness is under increasing scrutiny.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Allen places the development within a broader strategic context. As product formats evolve and regulatory expectations continue to sharpen, having established measurement frameworks in place brings clarity and consistency to how cannabinoids are assessed, supporting both innovation and compliance.

Integrated science across the product lifecycle

This latest capability builds on Broughton’s long-standing position within the life sciences sector, providing integrated analytical, toxicological and regulatory services to clients worldwide. From early development and analytical strategy through to routine quality control, stability studies and post-market support, the company supports products across their full lifecycle.

What has consistently set Broughton apart is the way scientific delivery and regulatory understanding are embedded together. In an environment where regulatory scrutiny is intensifying across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and emerging life science technologies, data must not only be scientifically sound but demonstrably reliable, traceable and generated within systems that can withstand sustained inspection.

A sustained record of regulatory compliance

That expectation is reflected in Broughton’s compliance record. In 2024, the company successfully completed inspections by both the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with no major or critical observations. These outcomes extended Broughton’s unbroken record of dual ISO 17025 and GMP compliance to 19 years, placing it among a relatively small cohort of UK laboratories to have maintained such consistency over time.

The UKAS audit assessed adherence to ISO 17025, the international benchmark for laboratory competence and data integrity, while the MHRA inspection examined GMP compliance across laboratory operations, quality systems and documentation. Together, these frameworks underpin trust in analytical science and regulatory decision-making, particularly where data supports high-value or high-risk development programmes.

At Broughton, inspections are approached as part of an ongoing process rather than isolated events. Associate Director of Quality Emmet Tilley describes a culture grounded in openness, where engagement with inspectors is used to refine systems and strengthen practices. Sustained compliance, he notes, reflects an organisational mindset that values rigour and continuous improvement rather than short-term audit success.

Consistency under global scrutiny

Broughton’s laboratories are routinely inspected not only by UKAS and the MHRA but also by international authorities including the US Food and Drug Administration, reinforcing confidence in data generated for global submissions. For organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions, this consistency can translate into faster decision-making and greater regulatory assurance.

As Chris Allen, CEO at Broughton, notes, when development teams trust the integrity of their data, they are able to move forward with greater speed and confidence. That assurance continues to drive Broughton’s investment in technical expertise, digital infrastructure and accredited capability, including its latest expansion in cannabinoid analytics.

In a sector where innovation is advancing rapidly but regulatory tolerance for uncertainty is diminishing, Broughton’s trajectory illustrates how sustained quality management and scientific rigour can act as enablers rather than constraints. By combining accredited analytical science with deep regulatory insight, the company has positioned itself as a long-term partner in development rather than simply a service provider.