Preliminary Evaluation of Two iiPCR Platforms for Qualitative Field Detection of Cannabis sativa.

Hampton S.; Hundtofte G.; Houston R. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026

**Background & Methods** This review evaluated two insulated isothermal PCR (iiPCR) platforms—POCKIT Central (benchtop) and POCKIT Micro Duo (field-portable)—for qualitative detection of Cannabis sativa DNA in plant materials. The study conducted sensitivity, exclusivity, variety, and interference testing under controlled laboratory conditions on cannabis samples including hemp powders, marijuana, commercial hemp seeds, and cannabis-tobacco mixtures. **Key Findings** - The iiPCR assay successfully detected cannabis DNA in all 31 hemp powder varieties, 5 marijuana samples, and 5 commercial hemp seed samples tested, with positive results maintained even in cannabis-tobacco mixtures containing up to 1000-fold excess tobacco contamination. - Specificity was high, with only 1 of 12 non-cannabis materials showing a false positive (hops on 1 of 4 replicates with the benchtop platform), demonstrating minimal cross-reactivity with botanically related species. - Both platforms provided results within 85 minutes without requiring laboratory infrastructure, though the benchtop POCKIT Central system demonstrated greater overall sensitivity compared to the field-portable POCKIT Micro Duo platform. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This is a preliminary technology evaluation study with significant limitations regarding clinical applicability. The research focuses on DNA detection methodology rather than cannabis pharmacology or therapeutic effects. Study limitations include: small sample sizes for some categories (5 marijuana samples, 12 non-cannabis controls), limited geographic/genetic diversity representation, and evaluation restricted to laboratory-controlled conditions without field validation. The single false positive with hops suggests potential cross-reactivity requiring further investigation. The assay targets cannabis DNA presence rather than THC quantification, making it suitable only for jurisdictions regulating all cannabis material regardless of potency. Results should be considered preliminary pending independent validation and larger-scale field deployment studies. This represents low-to-moderate evidence quality for technology validation but does not provide clinical evidence regarding cannabis therapeutic applications or safety profiles.

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