Shilajit Testing & Certification (COA)
Quality starts with transparent testing. This guide shows how to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA), what panels to look for, and how to match a report to your specific jar.
What is a COA?
A Certificate of Analysis is a lab report that confirms identity and summarizes quality checks for a specific batch or lot of product.
- Who issues it: The brand or a third-party lab after testing a batch.
- Purpose: Verify identity/purity and screen for potential contaminants.
- Scope: Panels often include identity, heavy metals, microbials, and sometimes residual solvents or pesticides (depending on process/region).
Why testing matters
- Confirms you’re getting the intended ingredient and form.
- Shows that the batch was screened against safety limits.
- Builds traceability from raw material to finished jar.
How to read a COA (step-by-step)
- Match identifiers: Confirm brand name, product name, and batch/lot number match your jar.
- Check dates: Look for report date and sample date. Recent reports are preferred.
- Verify identity/purity: Ensure the product tested is the intended Shilajit material (e.g., resin).
- Scan results: Review each panel’s result column and acceptance criteria.
- Confirm lab info: Look for the lab’s name, signature, or accreditation details where available.
Key lab panels to check
Identity & purity
- Confirms the material is Shilajit as labeled.
- May include spectroscopic or chromatographic checks.
Heavy metals
- Typically includes arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury.
- Ensure values meet accepted safety limits.
Microbial testing
- Total plate count and yeast/mold where applicable.
- Pathogen screens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli) as required.
Residual solvents / pesticides
- Relevant if solvents or agricultural inputs could be present.
- Look for “ND” (not detected) or values below limits.
Batch tracing & origin
- Jar should show a lot or batch number printed clearly.
- COA should reference the same number and product name.
- Origin statements (e.g., Himalayan source) should be transparent.
Authoritative Sources & Research Context
Third-party testing and Certificates of Analysis (COA) are important for verifying Shilajit quality. Understanding what to look for in testing helps consumers make informed choices.
Authoritative Sources
-
National Library of Medicine (NLM) – PubMed – A Comprehensive Review on Shilajit: What We Know about Its Chemical Composition.
PubMed – Shilajit Composition -
National Library of Medicine (NLM) – PubMed – Uncovering the Roles of Heavy Metals and Humic Substances in Shilajit.
PubMed – Shilajit Heavy Metals -
ACS Omega – Chemical Analysis of Native Himalayan Shilajit.
ACS Omega – Shilajit Chemistry -
ScienceDirect – Shilajit-Analytical Study to Understand the Phytocomplex.
ScienceDirect – Shilajit Analysis -
PubMed Central (PMC) – Evaluation of safety profile of black shilajit after 91 days.
PMC – Shilajit Safety -
Journal of Population Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology – Systematic Review: Clinical Efficacy and Safety.
JPTCP – Shilajit Review -
Examine.com – Shilajit Evidence-Based Review.
Examine.com – Shilajit
This section is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
FAQs
Should every batch have its own COA?
What if the COA date is old?
Can I scan a QR code to view the COA?
Continue Learning About Shilajit
Next steps
Compare COAs across brands, check lot numbers, and review safety pages before purchase.
Side effects & safety How to takeThese statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before use.