ACT LAB is one of the largest multi-state cannabis and hemp testing laboratories in the United States and provides services 
for licensed cultivators and processors. They are currently licensed in six states, including Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, with plans to grow.
In 2025, each of their locations earned ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from A2LA and became NIHC Verify members, going above and beyond industry requirements. Their dedication to quality sets an example for other testing organizations in the industry and instills trust and confidence in the customers they serve.
We chatted with ACT LAB’s Director of Quality Stephanie Zimmerman about her experience working with A2LA and NIHC, and how they’ve helped her organization maintain operational excellence and produce high quality test results. Here’s what she had to say:
A2LA: What types of products does ACT LAB test?
Stephanie: If it’s derived from cannabis or hemp, we’ve probably tested it! Anything from flower, concentrates, beverages, tinctures, and even dog treats. We do testing largely for licensed cannabis operators, whether that’s a cultivator, processor, or manufacturer, and we also support the hemp brands that are trying to navigate interstate commerce.
A2LA: How does ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation support ACT LAB?
Stephanie: Aside from just meeting the regulatory requirement, it really has become the backbone of how we operate. It has standardized and elevated everything we do from instrument calibration and method validation to staff competency and data review. It ensures that every result across our multiple locations is scientifically defensible and traceable.
A2LA: What’s it like working with A2LA to maintain your accreditation?
Stephanie: I’ve been really pleased with the customer service that I received from A2LA staff and our accreditation officers. All my questions and concerns are answered promptly, which is very important to me. Our assessors have been very thorough and incredibly knowledgeable. And it’s been a really enlightening, collaborative process.
A2LA: What were the initial assessments like?
Stephanie: The assessments were intense, but in a good way. Our assessors have really taken the time to learn about our laboratories. They’re not just issuing findings but helping us find the gaps that we have so we can work to fix them. Now, we’re more organized and more confident in our entire system.
A2LA: Why did you choose to become an NIHC Verify member?
Stephanie: This membership reinforces our commitment to quality and transparency. What I really appreciate about it is that it connects us with a network of like-minded, science-driven people that are looking to raise the bar for hemp testing standards nationwide.
A2LA: How does ACT LAB choose to promote its A2LA accreditation and NIHC Verify membership?
Stephanie: We’ve really made it part of our brand identity. They’re featured across our website, on our certificates of analysis, on marketing materials, and on client communications. It reinforces our customers’ trust in us and the data we provide. We also use them as educational tools, too. We share what it means to have those credentials for regulatory compliance, product integrity, and safety.
A2LA: What would you say to other cannabis and hemp testing labs looking into A2LA accreditation or an NIHC Verify Membership?
Stephanie: It’s important for anyone that’s looking to set a higher bar for technical excellence and integrity. It elevates the entire testing landscape and drives consistency and transparency in the industry.
For more information about A2LA’s hemp and cannabis testing accreditation program, visit A2LA.org/accreditation/cannabis-testing/. For more information on how to become an NIHC Verify member, visit nihc-verify.org.
Ready to start improving the quality of your organization’s test result? Request an A2LA accreditation quote today.