What you should be able to see
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Laboratory name and address | So you can check it exists and is independent |
| Accreditation for the tests | ISO/IEC 17025 shows competence for specific methods[1] |
| Batch number | To link the report to your jar |
| Metals and microbiology results | The core safety questions |
| Units and detection limits | To read results correctly |
| Test date | To relate the report to stock on sale |
The claim itself is assessed in “lab tested” and “third-party tested” claims.
Levels of independence
| Level | Who chooses the sample and tests |
|---|---|
| In-house testing | The brand, in its own laboratory |
| Third-party, brand-commissioned | The brand, using an outside laboratory |
| Certification scheme | A scheme with its own testing rules, such as sport-focused programmes[2] |
| Independently purchased and tested | Someone other than the brand, buying from retail |
Brand-commissioned third-party testing is the industry norm, and it can be excellent evidence. Its limits are explained in independent testing vs brand-provided COAs and what a consumer testing programme can show.
What good third-party testing looks like
Nature Elixirs’ batch SJ2509 was tested by AGROLAB LUFA GmbH, a third-party laboratory in Germany stating DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accreditation, between 25 September and 6 October 2025. The panel covered lead, cadmium, mercury, total arsenic, aflatoxins, PAHs, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pesticides and microbiology, on a 300 g sample.[3] Our team matched a purchased jar to that batch. Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed. See the Nature Elixirs evaluation.
How to request the report
If the report isn’t published, email the brand with your batch number and ask for the certificate of analysis for that batch, naming the tests you want to see. Our ready-to-use wording is in how to ask a brand for its COA. A prompt, complete reply is itself a good sign.
What third-party testing can’t do
- Test every jarIt tests a representative sample of a batch; see sample variation.
- Prove health effectsIt shows contents, not outcomes.
- Cover untested contaminantsOnly the tests run are covered.
The bottom line
“Third-party tested” should lead you to a batch-specific report from a named, accredited laboratory, with numerical results for metals and microbiology. Brand-commissioned testing is normal and can be excellent evidence; the key is that you can read the report yourself and match it to your jar. If a brand can’t show that, the phrase is still just a claim.
Five things to check when the report arrives
- Laboratory detailsName, address and accreditation statement.
- Batch and sampleBatch number matching your jar; sample size recorded.
- PanelLead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and microbiology as a minimum.
- ResultsNumbers with units and detection limits, not “pass”.
- DatesSample receipt and report dates.
If anything is missing, ask the brand to clarify before buying. Missing items aren’t automatically a problem, since some brands simply publish summaries, but the full report should be available on request. Our detailed walkthrough is how to read a shilajit COA, line by line, and the complete checklist is what a complete COA should contain.
If the brand says the report is confidential
Occasionally a brand says its laboratory reports are confidential. Some legitimate reasons exist, such as protecting supplier details, but the safety results for the batch you buy shouldn’t be secret. A brand can redact commercially sensitive details and still share metals and microbiology results. If it won’t share even those, treat “third-party tested” as unsupported.
Summary certificates vs full reports
Some brands publish a one-page summary rather than the laboratory’s full report. A summary can be convenient, but it is the brand’s presentation of the results. The full report, on the laboratory’s own letterhead with its accreditation details, is stronger evidence. If a summary is all that’s published, ask for the full report for your batch.
What a good reply from a brand looks like
When you ask for a third-party report, a good brand replies with the full report for your batch, or a clear explanation of when the next batch report will be available. It answers questions about the laboratory and tests directly. A reply that sends a generic, undated certificate, or that redirects you to marketing pages, suggests the testing claim is thinner than it sounds. Response quality is itself a useful signal about a seller.
Frequently asked questions
What does third-party tested mean for shilajit?
That a laboratory outside the brand tested it. You should be able to see the batch report with numerical results.
Is third-party testing independent?
The laboratory is independent, but the brand usually chooses the sample and tests. Read the report itself.
Which third-party-tested shilajit does Best Shilajit UK recommend?
Best Shilajit UK recommends Nature Elixirs: batch SJ2509 was tested by AGROLAB LUFA, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, across a broad panel.[3] Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed.
What accreditation should the laboratory have?
ISO/IEC 17025, covering the tests reported.[1] See lab accreditation.
Does third-party testing mean every jar was tested?
No. A representative sample of the batch is tested.
What if a brand won’t share its report?
Treat the claim as unsupported and consider another product.
Are sport certification schemes better?
They add their own testing rules, which suits athletes; UK Anti-Doping recommends batch-tested products.[2]
What should I check first on a third-party report?
The batch number. If it doesn’t match your jar, the rest of the report describes a different batch.
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]
- UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). Clean Sport Essentials pocket guide. ukad.org.uk, 2021. View source (opens in a new tab) [Anti-doping guidance]
- 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]