Supplement testing serves as a foundation for verifying purity, labeling accuracy, and dosage claims. This guide outlines how expert testing methods and industry standards evaluate products and what you can look for when reviewing a supplement’s documentation. The focus is on quality verification and transparency. Key standards and laboratories shape supplement testing. Reputable manufacturers follow GMPs and seek third-party verification from organizations such as USP, NSF International, or ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs. A batch-specific certificate of analysis (COA) accompanies each shipment, listing tested contaminants, potency, and the methods used. When a COA is provided, you can trace the product to a specific batch and confirm alignment with the label. Common testing methods in supplement testing include identification and potency confirmation via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography (GC) for volatile components, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for metals. Microbial testing checks for contamination, while analyses screen for pesticides, residual solvents, and authenticity markers. The combination of these tests helps verify ingredient identity and quantitative claims on the label. Practical steps you can take include: request the COA for the lot you buy and compare it to the label, check that the testing scope covers the listed ingredients and potential contaminants, verify the lab’s accreditation, and confirm that the COA is current and clearly dated. Look for transparent disclosure of detection limits and methodology, and be cautious of products with vague or missing documentation. For added assurance, choose products from brands that publish independent COAs and provide a direct path to obtain the full report. Read now.
