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tCheck 3 Device User Manual

Parker F.
  • Updated

Contents

Infusions you can test

tCheck's patented technology measures infusions in:

  • Ghee / clarified butter
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Coconut oil / MCT oil
  • Alcohol

Here is a list of the testing options that we currently support and when you should use them when testing.

  1. Decarbed Flower Infusion (THC and Hemp mg/ml) – Choose this option if you used some sort of THC or Hemp cannabis plant material to make your infusion.  For example, buds, trim, sugar leaf, or shake.  Please keep in mind that the tCheck device can only test your infusion if the plant material is fully decarboxylated or activated. Please see our blog article on decarboxylation for more details on what that is and how-to decarb.  The next screen will ask you what type of oil was used to make the infusion. Supported base material types for testing Decarbed flower Infusions: Alcohol, Butter, MCT coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil
  2. Isolate Infusion (THC and CBD mg/ml) – Choose this option if you made your infusion using some sort of winterized concentrate.  For example:  isolate, shatter, diamonds, crumble, distillate, honey oil (hash oil), or crystalline.  Most concentrates you purchase from a dispensary are winterized, meaning that all of the plant waxes, lipids, and chlorophyll has been removed.  The exceptions to this are FECO, RSO, and rosin which cannot be tested unless winterized.  On one of the subsequent screens, the app will ask you whether the concentrate has been decarbed or activated.  When the infusion is made with a concentrate, tCheck can test whether it has been fully decarbed or not decarbed.  It cannot test material that is only partially decarbed.  The next screen will ask you what type of oil was used to make the infusion. 
    Supported base material types for testing Winterized THC isolates: Alcohol, Butter, MCT coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil, and Winterized CBD isolates: Alcohol, MCT coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil.
  3. There may be a bit of confusion between this and the “Concentrate” test.  Choose
    1. “Isolate infusion” if you are testing some sort of oil or alcohol infusion with concentrates infused into it; or
    2. “Concentrate” test if you are testing the concentrate directly and not an oil or tincture.
  4. Raw Flower (Total Cannabinoid Percentage) – Choose this option if you want to test your raw dried flower before it goes into an infusion.  In order to use this capability, you’ll need the “Flower & Concentrate Expansion Kit” as it has the precision scale and reagents needed to run this test. The result will show the combined total percentage of cannabinoid. 
  5. Concentrate (THCa and CBD) – choose this option if you want to test your winterized concentrates such as isolate, shatter, diamonds, etc.  In order to use this capability, you’ll need the “Flower & Concentrate Expansion Kit” as it has the precision scale and reagents needed to run this test.

 

Notes

  • Butter and some coconut oils solidify as they cool, and then will not test properly. Make sure your infusion is still in its liquified state before inserting the tray into your tCheck 3.
    • Samples should be heated on a heating pad or stovetop (NOTE: do not heat the tCheck tray itself). Do not heat any testing material using a microwave, as microwaving can break down certain chemical compounds that will affect the reading.
  • When measuring butter, please be sure to only use clear butter fats. Milk solids will throw off the measurements.
  • Alcohol must be clear, and at least 80 proof. Do not use flavored alcohol (you can blend your infusion after testing). Tests will not be accurate with dark alcohol, or flavored alcohol.
  • Never mix 2 bases together to test. Always make sure to use pure olive oil, butter, coconut oil, or alcohol. Mixing 2 supported bases together to test, or mixing something into the base before testing will nullify results.

Connecting to your device

  1. Insert the batteries into your tCheck 3 device, and turn it on.
  2. Make sure the Bluetooth settings on your phone are enabled. Do not use your phone settings to connect to your device - if you get a pop-up from your phone, just exit out of it.
  3. tCheck requires Bluetooth low energy (BLE) connectivity to a mobile device in order to function. Apps are available for both iOS and Android. Please download the apps from the respective app stores.
  4. Log in to the app, or continue as a guest, and click ‘Run Test’ to connect to your device.
  5. If you have connected to a device previously, the app will attempt to connect to that device.
  6. A screen will pop up showing the name and ID of your device.
    1. If your device does not show up, ensure that your device is on and the logo is glowing blue, then tap “Scan”.
  7. Select your infusion base solvent, and then tap ‘Begin’.

Running a test

Remove the sample tray if in the device before powering it on. tCheck performs power-on self-diagnostics and a tray may interfere with these self-checks.

  1. Place your tCheck 3 device on a flat-level surface and turn it on by pressing the power button.
  2. Open the sample tray by separating the top and bottom halves. The top half can be identified by the tCheck logo, put this aside for now.
  3. Place the bottom half of the test tray on a level surface, and place approximately 4-5 drops of infused oil into the circular well area.
  4. Now place the top half of the tray onto the bottom, it’s OK if a small amount overflows out of the circular well area.
  5. Ensure that there are no bubbles in the circular well area.
  6. Follow app instructions to perform a test.

TrayIllustrations.svg

Test running tips

  • Do not pick up or move the device around with the tray inside it or during a test. tCheck tests best indoors, or out of direct sunlight, as this can affect the accuracy of your results.
  • Shake your infusion before putting 3-5 drops into the bottom half of the tray.
  • To avoid an infusion from solidifying in the tray, wait until you are prompted to insert the tray before putting an infusion inside the well.
  • Make sure there are no bubbles or solid material (such as tiny plant pieces) inside the testing tray once you have put the top and bottom pieces together. Anything solid in the tray will nullify the results.

Measurement range & accuracy

Measurement ranges for butter, coconut oil/MCT, olive oil, and alcohol are:

THC/CBD 

  • Olive Oil: 1 ~ 15 mg/ml 
  • Butter/Ghee: 1 ~ 15 mg/ml 
  • Coconut/MCT Oil: 1 ~ 15 mg/ml 
  • Alcohol Tinctures: 1 ~ 15 mg/ml 

THCa 

  • Flower: 1 ~ 40% 
  • Concentrate: 1 ~ 99% 

Interpreting your results

After the test is complete, your results will be displayed in mg/ml — milligrams of cannabinoids per milliliter of oil. CBV means “Compounds by Volume” which represents the total amount of cannabinoid molecular content per volume of liquid. This display may be changed to show other units such as mg/tsp or mg/tbsp.

An analogy would be dissolving sugar in a cup of water. If someone gives you a cup of sweetened water, CBV is a measure of the amount of granulated sugar that was dissolved in that cup of water. For example, 1 tbsp of sugar into 1 cup of water. (Note: tCheck does not measure sugar)

You can now take your test results and use them in the CBV Calculator to adjust your recipe accordingly.

Getting an 'OVER' measurement

The result displayed as ‘OVER’ means that the infused potency is stronger than tCheck is able to measure.

  1. Measure out a precise volume of your infusion (for example .5 mL).
  2. Measure out 2x the volume of the uninfused base oil (if you first measured out .5 mL, you would measure out 1 ml of the uninfused base).
  3. Mix thoroughly. Proper mixing is vital to getting an accurate reading. Use tCheck to measure the potency of the diluted solution.
  4. Multiply the measurement reading in mg/ml form by 3. This is the potency of your original infusion. Be sure to use this final amount you have calculated when dosing.
  • Avoid diluting the solution in the testing tray.
  • Shake the dilution to mix it thoroughly.

LED color changes


All Purple
Device Firmware Update(DFU) mode

All Green
Power On Self Test

All Red
Very low battery/do not perform measurements

Red - Red - White
Remove the tray. If the problem persists change the batteries. If the problem still persists contact support.

Blue - Blue - Green
Device ready/waiting for BLE connection

All Blue
BLE connected

Blue - Blue - Purple
The device is currently running a test (measurement)

All Yellow
Low battery/change batteries soon

 

Taking care of your device & tray

Turning off your device

tCheck automatically powers down after 3 minutes of inactivity so there is no need to press the power button to manually power down the device. To re-awaken the device, simply press the front power button (do not hold the button down). With normal use, a set of AAA batteries should last over 4 months, running several hundred measurements.

Taking care of your device

  • Do not immerse or submerge the tCheck device.
  • Hand wash sample tray & swizzle sticks with a soft sponge and liquid household dish soap.
  • Never store a used tray or clean tray in the tCheck unit. Always remove the tray and store both the tray and tCheck in a clean, dry place. Try to keep your tCheck device free of internal dust.

Taking care of your tray

Important! Even minor damage to your tray can lead to incorrect results. In the event that a new tray is required, you will need to return your device for recalibration.

  • Your tCheck tray, if properly cared for, should last the life of the device (roughly 1,000 tests).
  • Hand wash tray after each test, with non-abrasive cleansers. Wipe and dry it with a soft cloth.
  • Washing the tray in the dishwasher will destroy it.
  • Do not allow boiling hot liquids to touch your tray.
  • If the infusion solidifies in the tray before running a test, you will need to wash it and start over.
  • Do not handle your tray unless your hands are clean. Certain lotions, essential oils, and other contaminants can cloud and damage the tray.
  • Do not set your tray down on a hot surface.

Immediately after you are satisfied with your testing results, gently hand wash your tray with dishwashing liquid (i.e., Dawn). Never place your tray on a hot surface or put it in the microwave or dishwasher. This will damage your tray and bring great sadness to your tCheck 3 device.

 

Safety instructions

Engineered Medical Technologies reminds you that when using tCheck 3 or any electric appliance there are safety precautions that you should always follow:

  1. Read all instructions before operating the appliance.
  2. To protect against electrical shock, do not wet or immerse the tCheck 3 device in water.
  3. The use of any accessory attachments not specifically recommended or sold by Engineered Medical Technologies may pose a serious risk of injury. See the warranty for details.
  4. Do not place boiling oils or liquids into the testing tray.
  5. Do not move the tCheck device while the tray is inserted and during testing.
  6. Extreme caution must be used with moving appliances containing hot oil or other hot liquids.
  7. tCheck 3 is NOT a medical device in any way. No statement made about tCheck has been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration, tCheck is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. [US 21 C.F.R. 101.93(c)].
  8. Do not overfill the test sample tray. Leakage out of the tray into the tCheck 3 device may damage internal electronics. See the warranty for details.
  9. Do not install a tray upside down. Leakage into the device may occur and damage internal electronics. See the warranty for details.
  10. Do not use tCheck 3 for anything other than its intended use.
  11. Do not open or disassemble tCheck 3 as there are no internal user-serviceable parts. See the warranty for details.

Warnings

  • Burn hazard — infused oils may be hot. Handle with care.
  • Some recipes may suggest using liquids that are flammable. Your usage of such materials is at your own risk. Any damages are your own responsibility.
  • tCheck uses Ultraviolet (UV) light that may be potentially harmful if exposure to the skin or eye is prolonged. While exposure is unlikely, avoid placing your eye against the sample tray slot opening during device operation.
  • If you do not plan on using your tCheck 3 device for an extended period of time, we recommend removing the batteries to prevent leakage.
  • Do not mix old and new batteries.

RF exposure compliance

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

  • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
  • Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
  • Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
  • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

To comply with FCC/IC RF exposure compliance requirements, a separation distance of at least 20cm (8 inches) must be maintained between the antenna of this device and all persons.

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