When a person thinks about an Elevate Lab – Ingredient Transparency and Testing, they may picture shiny new futuristic equipment running novel test methods developed recently that produce mind-shattering details of a sample. While there might be a little bit of truth in that, the reality is a much more varied picture than many imagine.

Whether a supplement is being used for health, to get an edge in competition or as a medicine, the ability to accurately determine its contents and ensure that what is on the label matches the actual content inside the bottle is critical. This is where HPLC comes in to play.

It’s the primary tool used to assess a product’s purity, compare claims made by raw material suppliers, verify that the amount of protein in a supplement matches what’s on its label and even test the shelf life of a product.

Inside Our Supplement Testing Lab

For supplements that require more rigorous standards, NSF works confidentially with manufacturers to audit compliance with FDA GMPs two times a year. Manufacturers that meet these requirements are allowed to place the NSF/ANSI 173 ‘Content Tested and Certified’ mark on their products.

For sports certified supplements, NSF/ANSI 173 testing also checks for prohibited substances listed on the WADA Prohibited List. These screenings are shaped by surveillance analysis and research into the emergence of new threats within the supplements industry. These include assessing the impact of administration of new, and often small, banned compounds such as methylhexanamine and phenethylamine analogs.