Third-Party Tested and COA: What They Actually Mean
Short answer: Third-party tested means an independent lab, not the brand, checks the product. A COA, or certificate of analysis, is the document that lab produces showing what it found. A brand testing its own product and calling it "lab tested" is not the same thing.
Why "lab tested" on its own means little
Any company can run its own test and print "lab tested" on the label. That is marketing, not proof. Third-party testing matters because the lab has no stake in the result. If a brand will not show you the certificate, that tells you something.
What a COA shows
A solid certificate of analysis usually lists:
- Identity: that the ingredient is what the label says it is.
- Potency: that the dose printed is the dose inside.
- Contaminants: screening for things like heavy metals, depending on the product.
- The batch or lot number, so the certificate matches the tub in your hand.
You can see how a published certificate reads on our lab results page.
How to ask for one
Email the brand and ask for the COA for your batch. A transparent company will send it. Then match the lot number on the certificate to the one on your tub. When you are weighing two products, a quick side-by-side comparison of what each one discloses tells you a lot.
FAQ
Is third-party testing required by law? No, which is exactly why it is worth looking for.
What is the difference between "lab tested" and "third-party tested"? "Lab tested" can mean the brand tested itself. Third-party means an independent lab with no stake in the outcome.
Should every batch have a COA? Ideally yes, because each batch is made separately.
The Valenco take
Every Valenco batch is third-party tested by an independent lab, with a COA on every batch. Full Supplement Facts, doses printed, nothing hidden. See the full lineup at valenco.org.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.