STAR LABA profile is a measurement of a sample, not a clinical prediction.
First ask: a percentage of what?
A report may show mass percent of the whole sample or each compound’s share of the measured terpene total. Those denominators are different. For example, 0.5% by mass equals 5 mg/g. If a sample contains 2.0% measured total terpenes and limonene contributes 0.5%, limonene represents 25% of that measured total. These are illustrative numbers, not PSL batch data.
Keep the record complete
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Sample | Batch ID, material type and sampling date. |
| Units | Mass percent, mg/g or relative share; never mix them silently. |
| Test scope | Which compounds the laboratory included in its panel. |
| Reporting limits | Detection and quantification limits; “not detected” does not prove zero. |
| Method | The analytical method and any stated measurement uncertainty. |
This is our editorial reading checklist. Compare it with the actual laboratory report rather than filling missing fields with assumptions.
Chemistry and aroma answer different questions
The 2024 five-sample rosin study discussed elsewhere in this journal examined nonterpenoid differences in related phenotypes. It is a useful reminder that a short terpene list cannot stand in for the full aromatic chemistry. [1]
Do not turn a chart into a prescription
“Dominant” means the largest reported contribution under a stated measurement scheme. It does not mean most clinically effective. A professional record keeps measured chemistry, observer-reported aroma and experimental health findings in separate fields. Without a batch-linked report, PSL profiles should be labelled “not yet documented” rather than assigned invented percentages.
Sources & further reading
Research findings and public-agency definitions are attributed above. Reading checklists are editorial guidance, not laboratory findings.