What to Look for in Lab Tests for Kratom

What’s inside the packet? This should be the first question that crosses your mind when you purchase a packet of kratom powder. As we know from the scandals that have appeared in the news, “kratom powder” isn’t always what it appears to be. That’s why it’s so important to invest in — and require — lab-tested kratom from your vendor. Join us as we explain what makes a kratom testing lab a trustworthy certifier and what to look for in Certificates of Analysis.

Not All Labs are Made Equal

Third-Party, Independent Labs

“Lab-tested kratom” sounds impressive, but can mean a wide range of things. Firstly, does the kratom testing lab belong to the same company that’s selling the product? If so, you cannot wholly rely on the results to provide an accurate and objective evaluation of the product. In contrast, a third-party independent lab — while still not 100% foolproof — has a commercial reputation to uphold and must fulfill objective government standards in order to stay open for business.

Certificates of Analysis

Secondly, does the vendor make the Certificates of Analysis available for each batch? If the only “evidence” of lab-testing is a typed list of results at the end of the product description, you really have no way to know if the product has, in fact, been tested at all. Any licensed kratom testing lab will instead provide a Certificate of Analysis or Certificate of Authenticity with the batch number clearly stated at the top. This certificate is usually scanned and made available on a vendor’s website on a dedicated page with links, in a “search by batch ID” page, or provided to the customer by request.

What a CoA Should Include

 

The five-step process that our lab uses at Kratom Country is the gold standard for any herb or natural product. On the Certificate of Analysis, our independent kratom testing lab provides all of the following information:

1. Plant identity

Kratom should be tested for plant species before all else. If you ordered premium Bali kratom, you want to know that that’s exactly what you’re getting—not green Malay capsules or another herb entirely.

2. Alkaloid content

Alkaloids are the lifeblood of kratom, but that doesn’t mean that “more is better.” Many states have a limit on how much 7-hydroxy mitragynine a kratom product can contain and you need to know that your product is well within the legal limit.

3. Adulterants

Any kratom testing lab that’s worth its salt must test for adulterants. Kratom that was adulterated with O-desmethyl tramadol in Sweden was linked with at least nine deaths. Similarly, most of the deaths that were pinned on kratom in the United States involved mixing the herb with prescription and illegal drugs. 

Most kratom that is purchased at specialty stores like smoke shops and head shops do not contain a Certificate of Analysis and may be adulterated with other substances and/or fillers. Buying only kratom that is confirmed pure is the responsible choice for your health and the future of the kratom industry in general.

4. Heavy Metals

Heavy metals have been a source of concern for kratom enthusiasts—especially since a 2020 report was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health revealing that some kratom purchased in Chicago contained “significant levels of toxic metals.” 

While most plants and products used by humans contain trace amounts of heavy metals, these values should not exceed the maximum established as safe for humans. In our third-party kratom testing lab, each batch is tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, and the Certificate of Analysis states which of these metals are present and whether the levels present are safe.

5. Biological safety

The fifth step that is applied in our third-party kratom testing lab is a test for biological safety. As a kratom enthusiast, you understand the importance of ensuring that your kratom is tested for salmonella, staphylococcus, E. Coli, yeast, mold, bacteria, and aerobic plate count. 

When you look at our Certificates of Analysis (available on request), you will see the acceptable ranges of values for each of these biological substances, along with the exact values that your batch contains. This is the only way to be sure that your kratom product is pure and safe.

Shop Kratom Country for Kratom You Can Trust

Kratom Country has been dedicated to selling pure, all-natural kratom since 2010, imported directly from our farmers and wild-harvesters in Southeast Asia and milled daily for maximum freshness. On the back of every packet of our kratom leaves, powders, and capsules, you will find the unique batch ID of the product, which you can use to request the Certificate of Analysis from the kratom testing lab by contacting our friendly customer service staff. Have questions or want to know more? Please reach out to our team and read the questions and answers on our FAQs page.

Please note that the US FDA has not approved kratom to be sold for human consumption, sold for external use only. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. None of the products sold on our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.