How to read a herbal tea lab report
Start with three questions: what was tested, what did the lab find, and which sample does the result describe?
This guide explains the fields you will see and what a report can tell you about the sample it covers.
Five details to check
Product and sample name
Which sample the lab received. Compare the name with the product and any batch details you have.
Report number and date
Which report you are reading and when it was issued. Look for an amendment or replacement notice.
Tests performed
The substances or characteristics the lab checked. Other substances may not have been tested.
Results and units
The result of each named test. Keep the unit beside the number when comparing it with any stated limit.
Method and limits
How the test was performed and its stated measurement or detection limits.
Read every page, including the notes and attachments. A headline or cropped image may leave out details that matter.
What does “not detected” mean?
It means the lab did not detect the named substance in that sample using the test described. Read it alongside the method and any detection limit in the report.
It does not mean every possible substance was tested, or that every batch has the same result.
A detection limit concerns the smallest amount a method can detect with reasonable certainty. IUPAC’s definition of a detection limit explains the analytical term.
Does it cover the pack I’m buying?
Look for a batch number, manufacturing date or other identifying details. A report for one sample does not automatically cover another batch, even when the product name is the same.
If you cannot find a connection to a particular pack, send us the report number and the batch details shown on your pack. We can help you identify what is available and what has not been established.
Ask about a report or batchIf a report has been replaced
Check the report number and any amendment or replacement letter. If a document refers to extra pages or an attachment you cannot see, ask for the complete copy.
Three different documents
- Ingredient list
- Describes what goes into the blend.
- Lab report
- Reports tests performed on a sample.
- Registration record
- Shows information held by the issuing authority. It is not a medical endorsement.
