Identity Testing
Confirming Botanical Genus, Species & Plant Part
The First Step in Product Safety & Compliance
At the heart of regulatory compliance and the delivery of safe, effective botanical products is one fundamental question: identity. Plant chemistry is inherently complex and further complicated by modern production techniques. Adulteration with the wrong plant or plant part remains far too common. Proper botanical identification, confirming genus, species, and plant part, is essential.
Watch how a sample moves through our lab to provide reliable, defensible data:
Safe or Toxic? The Critical Role of Proper Plant Identification
Many plants have close relatives that look and smell very much alike. Sometimes they have similar actions, other times very different ones, occasionally one is safe and effective, but the other is toxic. Your product label is required to be specific and accurate, so you need to know the genus and species on any plant you plan to sell.
What types of botanicals do we test?
Our Herbarium
One of the industry’s largest collection of analyzed & authenticated botanical specimens.
More than 15,000 verified samples spanning over 20 years of global botanical commerce.
A critical reference for identity testing, enabling comparisons across time, geography, and supply chains.
Composite Reference Materials
Custom blends of verified botanicals from multiple sources allow more accurate identity testing. Seasonal & regional variabilities can cause slight variations in botanicals which single source samples can’t accommodate, which can mean an unnecessarily rejected lot of raw materials. Our composites solve that problem.
Our Tools and Methods
We work with our clients to ensure test methods are appropriate for their intended use by identifying and using an appropriate scientifically valid method for each established specification.
Microscopy
Microscopy is one of the oldest and still most effective techniques employed to assess identity and quality of botanicals. It often times is able to detect adulterants and contamination including fillers, extracts, and incorrect plant parts. This technique is applicable to crude raw botanicals from powdered to whole form and is a preferred technique.
HPTLC
High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) assess identity and quality of botanicals and various ingredients. Many times the test is able to detect adulterants and contamination, such as including incorrect plant parts, closely related species, and unknowns. This technique is applicable to crude raw botanicals from powdered to whole form, extract (powdered or liquid), and finished product/blends. HPTLC is the preferred technique worldwide.
HPLC Fingerprint
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Fingerprinting is a useful and complementary technique used to assess identity and quality of complex herbal blends and various ingredients from a marker compound perspective. Chromatographic fingerprints give information assisting manufacturing control and assuring batch to batch conformity.
CRBs
Composite Reference Botanicals (CRBs) are custom blends of verified botanicals from multiple sources and locations to support internal lab testing. Each component is internally qualified and then combined to create a better representative sampling of the botanical versus any single reference botanical available on the market.
The Alkemist Labs Difference
The level of expertise demonstrated by the lab you’ve chosen speaks volumes about your commitment to accurate identity testing. The correct analytical technique needs to be properly chosen and matched to each individual test sample so that botanical species and plant part can be confirmed in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Alkemist Labs is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by A2LA
- Our scope covers dietary supplement and botanical identification by HPTLC and Microscopy
- Each client has a dedicated account manager ensuring your needs are met
- Our technical team is always accessible to discuss your report