Discover how supplement quality testing verifies purity, potency, and safety. In practice, supplement quality testing is a disciplined program that confirms ingredients on the label, ensures the active components are within specified ranges, and screens for potential contaminants. Labs follow standardized procedures and operate under quality systems to produce consistent results. Trusted lab methods used in supplement quality testing include identity verification via spectroscopy and chromatography, as well as potency assays validated for accuracy and precision. Impurity profiling identifies manufacturing byproducts and degradation products; heavy metals are measured with ICP-MS; residual solvents with GC-MS; microbiological and allergen testing as appropriate. Laboratories align with GMP and ISO 17025 to maintain method reliability and data integrity. The steps to ensure your supplements are safe today start with a robust sampling plan and chain of custody from supplier to lab. Methods are validated and calibrated; reference standards are used; internal quality controls and control charts monitor performance. A batch is released only when test results meet predefined acceptance criteria, and certificates of analysis document the findings for traceability. This approach to supplement quality testing provides transparency and consistency across products, supporting regulatory compliance and consumer trust. Learn how to interpret test results, the frequency of testing, and the standards labs apply to verify purity, potency, and safety.
