A method for determining a level of one or more live microbes in a sample of a
Cannabis plant includes (a) introducing a DNase
enzyme into a sample including (i)
Cannabis plant matrix derived from lysed cells of a
Cannabis plant and (ii) live microbial cells including microbial
genomic DNA, (b) introducing an
anionic detergent into the sample, where the
anionic detergent is in an amount effective to inactivate the DNase
enzyme in the sample and lyse the live microbial cells in the sample, (c) introducing a known quantity of control
DNA into the sample, (d) contacting the sample with a plurality of
polynucleotide capture agents, (e) isolating the plurality of
polynucleotide capture agents, thereby isolating polynucleotides from the microbial
genomic DNA and / or control
DNA in the sample, and (f) amplifying at least a portion of polynucleotides from the microbial
genomic DNA isolated in step (e).