⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Our product testing is for educational and informational purposes only. Test results represent our findings on specific product units at a specific time. They do not guarantee safety, efficacy, or consistent quality across all batches. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
Our Testing Philosophy
We don’t just summarize marketing claims — we test products ourselves. Every product we review is purchased at retail price (no free samples, no manufacturer influence). We test to verify label accuracy, detect contaminants, and assess value. Our results are snapshots in time; formulations change, and we note when reviews were conducted.
⚠️ What Our Testing Is NOT
- Not a safety certification. We are not a regulatory body. Our tests don’t replace FDA oversight, GMP audits, or third-party certifications (NSF, USP, Informed Sport).
- Not a guarantee of safety or efficacy. A “pass” on label accuracy doesn’t mean the product works for you or is safe for your specific health situation.
- Not medical advice. Test results are data points — not prescriptions. Consult your healthcare provider before using any supplement.
- Not exhaustive. We test specific analytes (label claims, heavy metals, microbes). We don’t test for every possible contaminant, allergen, or interaction.
🧪 What We Test
| Analyte Category | Methods | Standards Referenced | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Label Accuracy (Active Ingredients) | HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS | USP <2040>, AOAC, label claim ±10% | Every product |
| Heavy Metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) | ICP-MS | USP <232>/<233>, CA Prop 65, ICH Q3D | Every product |
| Microbial Contamination | USP <61>/<62>, PCR | USP <1111>, FDA BAM, total aerobic, yeast/mold, E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus | Every product |
| Pesticide Residues | LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS | USP <561>, EPA tolerances, EU MRLs | Botanical products |
| Allergens (Gluten, Soy, Dairy, etc.) | ELISA, PCR | FDA FALCPA, Codex Alimentarius, <20 ppm gluten | When claimed “free” |
| Protein Quality (Amino Acid Profile) | Amino acid analysis (HPLC) | FAO/WHO scoring, PDCAAS, DIAAS | Protein powders |
| Oxidation (Peroxide Value, Anisidine, TOTOX) | AOCS methods | GOED, IFOS, USP | Omega-3 oils |
| Disintegration / Dissolution | USP <701>/<711> | USP, FDA guidance | Tablets, capsules |
🏭 Our Lab Partners
We do not run an in-house lab. We partner with ISO 17025-accredited, DEA-registered, cGMP-compliant analytical laboratories that specialize in dietary supplement analysis. Our current partners include:
- [Lab Name 1] — ISO 17025, NSF/ANSI 173, USP compliant — Specialty: HPLC, ICP-MS, microbiology
- [Lab Name 2] — ISO 17025, FDA registered — Specialty: botanical ID, pesticide screens, allergen ELISA
- [Lab Name 3] — ISO 17025, cGMP — Specialty: amino acid analysis, oxidation testing, dissolution
Note: Specific lab assignments vary by analyte. Full lab reports (Certificates of Analysis) are available upon request for any tested product.
📦 Sample Acquisition & Chain of Custody
- Retail Purchase: Products purchased anonymously from major retailers (Amazon, iHerb, Vitamin Shoppe, brand websites) at full retail price.
- Blinding: Samples assigned anonymous codes. Lab receives coded samples only — no brand names.
- Chain of Custody: Signed COC forms track samples from purchase → our office → lab → data return.
- Retention: Remaining sample retained 90 days for potential re-test. Then properly disposed.
- Lot Tracking: Lot numbers, expiration dates, purchase date/location recorded for every sample.
📊 How We Report Results
| Result Type | Reporting Format | Interpretation Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Label Accuracy | % of label claim (e.g., “98% of label claim”) | 90–110% = Pass; <90% = Under-dosed; >110% = Over-dosed |
| Heavy Metals | mcg per serving + mcg/day at suggested dose | Compared to USP <232>/Prop 65/IOM limits; color-coded: Green <50% limit, Yellow 50–100%, Red >limit |
| Microbial | CFU/g or “Not Detected” | Compared to USP <1111>/FDA BAM limits |
| Pesticides | ppb per serving | Compared to EPA tolerances / EU MRLs |
| Overall Verdict | PASS / CONDITIONAL PASS / FAIL | PASS = all tested analytes within acceptable limits; CONDITIONAL = minor deviation; FAIL = significant safety or label accuracy issue |
📄 Certificate of Analysis (CoA) Transparency
We believe in full transparency. For every product we test, the full Certificate of Analysis from our lab partner is available upon request. We redact only the lab’s proprietary method details — all analyte results, methods, specifications, and pass/fail determinations are disclosed.
To request a CoA: Email [email protected] with the product name and review date.
🔬 Testing by Category: What’s Different
Protein Powders
- Protein content (amino acid analysis)
- Amino acid profile (PDCAAS/DIAAS)
- Heavy metals (4-panel)
- Microbial panel
- Disintegration time
- Label claim verification (protein, carbs, fat, calories)
Omega-3 / Fish Oil
- EPA/DHA content (GC-FID)
- Oxidation: PV, AV, TOTOX
- Heavy metals + PCBs/dioxins/furans
- Form verification (rTG vs EE vs TG vs PL)
- Vitamin A/D content (if added)
Multivitamins / Multiminerals
- Full vitamin/mineral panel (HPLC, ICP-MS)
- Folate form verification (folic acid vs methylfolate)
- B12 form (cyanocobalamin vs methylcobalamin)
- Heavy metals
- Disintegration
Probiotics
- Viable count (CFU) at expiration (not manufacture)
- Strain verification (16S rRNA sequencing)
- Acid/bile survival (in vitro)
- Contaminant screening
Botanicals / Herbal Extracts
- Marker compound quantification (HPLC)
- Heavy metals (critical for botanicals)
- Pesticide screen
- Microbial panel
- Adulterant screen (pharmaceuticals, synthetic dyes)
⚖️ How We Score & Rank
Our scoring rubric weights evidence, testing, transparency, and value:
| Criterion | Weight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Label Accuracy (Testing) | 30% | Pass = 90–110% of label claim for all actives |
| Purity / Safety (Testing) | 30% | Heavy metals, microbes, pesticides within limits |
| Ingredient Quality & Form | 20% | Bioavailable forms, clinically studied doses, no proprietary blends |
| Transparency | 10% | Full label disclosure, CoA available, third-party certs |
| Value (Cost per Effective Dose) | 10% | Cost per gram of active / per serving at effective dose |
Final Ratings: A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79), D (60–69), F (<60)
⚠️ Limitations of Our Testing
- Single lot testing: Results apply to the specific lot tested. Manufacturing variability exists.
- Not stability testing: We test at time of purchase. We don’t test shelf-life stability.
- Not bioavailability testing: We verify content, not absorption in humans.
- Not clinical trials: We don’t test efficacy in humans. We verify what’s in the bottle.
- Analyte scope: We test for specific analytes. Absence of evidence ≠ evidence of absence for untested compounds.
📋 Request a Test / Report an Issue
Want us to test a specific product? Found a discrepancy in our results? Have a lab report to share?
Email: [email protected]
Last Updated: January 2025
Next Review: April 2025