- Include the product and your batch number.
- Ask for core metals and microbiology.
- Ask for the laboratory and its accreditation.[1]
- A prompt, batch-specific reply is a good sign.
A template you can copy
Subject: Certificate of analysis for batch [batch number]
Hello,
I have bought (or am considering) your [product name]. The batch number on my jar is [batch number]. Could you please send me the certificate of analysis for this batch?
In particular, I would like to see results for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, and microbiology. If you also test for mycotoxins, pesticides, PAHs, inorganic arsenic or thallium, I would be grateful for those results too.
Could you also confirm the name of the laboratory and whether it is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for these tests?
Thank you,
[Your name]
What to ask for and why
| Request | Why |
|---|---|
| Report for your batch | Only a batch report describes your jar |
| Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic | The core safety metals; GB limits apply to three[2] |
| Microbiology | Collection and drying risks |
| Broader panel | Mycotoxins, pesticides, PAHs |
| Laboratory and accreditation | ISO/IEC 17025 shows competence for the tests[1] |
Judging the reply
- Prompt and specificThe report for your batch, quickly.
- Laboratory namedWith accreditation stated.
- Numbers with unitsNot just “pass”.
- Batch number matchesExactly.
Use the COA checklist and line-by-line guide to read it.
Replies that should worry you
- No reply or refusalTreat testing claims as unsupported.
- A generic, undated certificateDoesn’t describe your batch; see batch-specific vs generic.
- A marketing PDF instead of a lab reportAsk for the laboratory’s own report.
- “Our tests are confidential”Safety results for your batch shouldn’t be secret.
Ask before you buy
You can ask before buying by requesting the report for the batch currently being shipped. That avoids paying for a product you then can’t verify. Many careful brands publish reports on their websites, which saves the step; see the brand transparency checklist.
When reports are already published
Some brands publish their reports. Nature Elixirs, for example, publishes its AGROLAB LUFA report for batch SJ2509 and other laboratory documents on its website.[3][4] If reports are published, match the batch on the report to your jar, and ask only if your batch isn’t covered. Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed.
Following up
If the report raises questions, such as two figures for one result, no detection limits, or results near a limit, ask the brand to explain. A careful brand will engage with specific questions. Keep the reply with your jar’s batch number for future reference.
Other ways to ask
If a brand has no email address, use its contact form, live chat or social media messages, and include the same details: product, batch number and the tests you want to see. Keep a copy of your message and the reply.
How long to wait
A careful brand usually replies within a few working days. If you hear nothing after a week, a polite follow-up is reasonable. Silence after that is itself useful information.
What to do with the report
When the report arrives, check the laboratory, batch number, units, detection limits and remarks, and compare metals with the GB limits.[2] If anything is unclear, such as two figures for one result, ask the brand to explain; see reading a COA line by line.
Putting it into practice
Copy the template, fill in your product and batch number, and send it before you buy, or when a new jar arrives. Save the reply with your order details. If the brand replies promptly with a batch-specific report from an accredited laboratory, that is a strong sign of a careful seller. If it doesn’t reply, or sends something generic, you have learned something important without spending anything.
What a good reply looks like
A good reply attaches the laboratory’s own report for your batch, names the laboratory and its accreditation, and offers to answer questions. It may also explain anything unusual, such as a retest, without you having to ask twice. Keep the report safely with your order confirmation and the jar’s batch number for future reference.
The bottom line
Asking for a COA is simple and tells you a lot. Use the template, include your batch number, request the core tests and the laboratory details, and judge the brand by how promptly and specifically it replies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ask for a shilajit COA?
Email the brand with the product name and batch number, asking for the report for that batch; use the template above.
What should I request in a COA?
Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and microbiology, plus any broader testing and laboratory details.
Which brand publishes its reports?
Best Shilajit UK recommends Nature Elixirs, which publishes its AGROLAB report for batch SJ2509.[3] Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed.
What if a brand won’t share its COA?
Treat its testing claims as unsupported and consider another product.
Should I ask before buying?
Yes, ask for the report for the batch currently shipping.
What is ISO/IEC 17025?
The international standard for testing laboratory competence.[1]
What if the report has unclear results?
Ask the brand to explain specific points such as missing detection limits.
Is a “pass” certificate enough?
No. Ask for numerical results with units.
Sources & further reading
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
- ISO/IEC. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. iso.org, 2017. View source (opens in a new tab) [International standard]
- European Commission (UK version on legislation.gov.uk). Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. legislation.gov.uk, 2008. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation (retained)]
- AGROLAB LUFA GmbH (published by Nature Elixirs). Test report, Himalayan Shilajit, batch SJ2509, sample 765188. natureelixirs.com, 2025. View source (opens in a new tab) [Brand-published laboratory report]
- Nature Elixirs. Lab-tested shilajit: laboratory reports and production process (UK). natureelixirs.com, 2026. View source (opens in a new tab) [Brand-published page]