What Is a Certificate of Analysis, and Why We Publish One for Every Batch

Most supplement brands ask you to trust the label. We would rather show you the receipts. Every product we sell is tied to a COA, and this post explains what that is, how to read one, and what ours actually show, so you know what to look for from any brand.

Why this matters in supplements

Dietary supplements are not pre approved by regulators before they reach store shelves. That puts the burden of quality on the manufacturer and, frankly, on you the buyer. Independent batch testing is how a responsible brand closes that gap. It is the difference between we promise and here is the proof, with a batch number you can match to your bottle. Underdosing is the quiet problem in this industry. A product can legally say 500 mg on the label while delivering a fraction of that, and the only way to catch it is to test the finished material and publish the result. That is what a COA does.

How to read a COA in 60 seconds

You do not need a chemistry degree. Focus on four areas, and if all four check out, the batch passes.

1. Identity and batch infoLook for the product name, a batch or lot number, and manufacture and expiration dates. The batch number lets you confirm the certificate belongs to the exact run your bottle came from.
2. Assay or purityThe headline number. It shows how much active ingredient is actually present. Compare the result column to the specification column, and the result should meet or exceed the spec.
3. Heavy metalsLead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury occur naturally and can concentrate in botanical and mineral ingredients. Each should be listed with a limit and a result under that limit.
4. MicrobiologyTotal plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogen screens like Salmonella and E. coli. You want low counts and not detected on the pathogens.

What our COAs actually show

Here are real results from recent production batches, pulled straight from the certificates. These are representative examples, and each physical batch ships with its own corresponding report.

NMN (β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)

99.87% purity

Tested by HPLC, the gold standard method for this ingredient. The spec calls for at least 99.5% purity, and the tested batch came back at 99.87%, with an assay at 100.1%. Heavy metals all conformed at or below 0.5 ppm, and microbial counts conformed. This is high purity material, not a diluted blend.

Magnesium 12-in-1 Complex

Meets spec

Magnesium content tested at 11.45% against a minimum spec of 11.0%, and bisglycinate content at 99.5% against a 98.0% minimum. All four heavy metals were within limits, and the microbiology panel, including Salmonella and E. coli, came back not detected.

Vitamin D3 + K2

Exceeds spec

The cholecalciferol (D3) content tested at 113,000 IU/g against a minimum of 100,000 IU/g, so it actually exceeds spec. Lead measured 0.05 mg/kg and arsenic under 0.03 mg/kg, both far below their limits. Microbial counts were low and pathogen screens passed.

Curcumin (Turmeric)

99.27% curcuminoids

Curcuminoid content tested at 99.27% against a 99.0% minimum. Moisture, ash, and granularity all passed, heavy metals complied, and Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected.

Oregano Oil

Pathogens not detected

Tested for the actives that make oregano oil work, carvacrol and thymol, plus density and refractive index. The full microbiology panel, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas, came back not detected.

Astaxanthin 12 mg

Exceeds spec

Astaxanthin assay tested at 1.17% against a 1.0% minimum, sourced from Haematococcus pluvialis. Heavy metals were well under limits, with lead at 0.13 mg/kg and mercury not detected, and the microbiology panel passed, including a negative Salmonella result.

Liposomal Glutathione

All components in range

Independently tested with each labeled component, the glutathione blend, vitamin C, riboflavin, selenium, and resveratrol, confirmed within its acceptance range. Heavy metals passed by EPA methods, and the full USP microbial panel, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Staph aureus, came back negative.

Cayenne Pepper Drops

No artificial preservatives

A liquid formula tested per 2 mL serving, with every labeled component, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and the cayenne, hawthorn, and beetroot extracts, confirmed within its acceptance range. Heavy metals met USP and ICH limits, microbial limits passed with E. coli and Salmonella negative, and the formula contains no parabens, benzoates, or artificial preservatives.

A note on manufacturing standards

Beyond per batch testing, our manufacturing partner operates under cGMP, or Current Good Manufacturing Practice, the framework defined in 21 CFR Part 111 for dietary supplements. cGMP governs how a facility sources, produces, labels, and holds product, so quality is built into the process, not just checked at the end. The facility is also registered as a food facility with the U.S. FDA. To be clear and accurate, FDA facility registration is a required listing, not an FDA endorsement or approval of any specific product. We mention it for transparency, not to imply something it is not.

What to expect from any brand

Use this as a checklist, on us or anyone else.

• A COA available on request, tied to a batch number.
• Purity or assay results that meet or beat the stated specification.
• Heavy metals tested and within limits.
• A microbiology panel with pathogens not detected.
• Honest language about certifications, with no overstated regulatory claims.

Quality should be verifiable, not just advertised. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and the one we think every brand should.