Identity Testing
Confirming an ingredient is actually what the label says it is - required for every dietary ingredient.
Identity testing confirms that each dietary ingredient is genuinely what your label claims - that the "lion's mane" is lion's mane and not rice flour, or that the bilberry isn't actually elderberry. It's required for every ingredient under 21 CFR 111 and is the first thing Amazon and the FDA check.
It is not the same as potency: identity tells you what it is, potency tells you how much. Common methods include HPTLC, FTIR, DNA barcoding, and microscopy.
Related terms
Guides that cover Identity Testing
Amazon Supplement Compliance: Don't Get Delisted
FDA & GMPThe "Oh Crap, The FDA Is Calling" Guide to 21 CFR 111 Testing Requirements
Getting StartedHow to Find a Supplement Testing Lab — The Complete Guide
ManufacturingContract Manufacturer Testing: Why 'They Handle It' Is the Most Dangerous Phrase in Supplements
Getting StartedSupplement Testing for New Brands: What to Do First (Before You Waste Money)
ComplianceImporting Supplements: The Testing and Customs Documentation You Need to Clear the FDA
ComplianceCalifornia vs. Federal Supplement Testing: Why FDA Compliance Isn't Enough
Test MethodsIs Your Magnesium Glycinate Actually Magnesium Oxide? How to Test What's Really in the Bottle
Getting StartedHow to Test Your Supplement Before Selling (First Batch Checklist)
FDA & GMPSupplement Finished Product Testing: The GMP Release Checklist
Compliance5 FDA Supplement Regulations You're Probably Violating Right Now
Free Resources21 CFR 111 GMP Compliance Checklist — Free PDF Download
Free ResourcesFree Supplement Specification & COA Templates
Selling OnlineHow to Upload a COA to Amazon Seller Central — Step by Step
Getting StartedSupplement Lab Comparison — Eurofins vs SGS vs Intertek vs ALS vs Independent Labs
Ingredient TestingAshwagandha Testing: Withanolides, Root Auth, Heavy Metals
Ingredient TestingBeetroot Nitrate Testing: Quantifying Active, Label Claims, Metals
Ingredient TestingBerberine Supplement Testing: HPLC Purity, Adulteration, Identity
Test MethodsBotanical Identity Testing — HPTLC, Microscopy, DNA Barcoding
SpecializedCollagen Supplement Testing — Amino Acid Profile Verification
Test MethodsDNA Barcoding Supplement Identity: Species Authentication by qPCR
FDA & GMPDSHEA Explained for Supplement Brands
Ingredient TestingElderberry Supplement Testing: Anthocyanin Content, Identity, and Microbial Safety
FDA & GMPFDA Warning Letters for Supplements -- Testing Violations
FDA & GMPForm 483 Response Guide for Supplement Companies
Ingredient TestingGinseng Testing: Ginsenoside Profile by HPLC, Species Authentication, and Pesticide Risks
Ingredient TestingIron Supplement Testing: ICP-MS Potency, Form Verification, Disint
Getting StartedISO 17025 for Supplement Testing, Explained
Ingredient TestingL-Theanine Supplement Testing: HPLC Purity, L vs D Enantiomer Verification, and Identity
ComplianceSupplement Label Claim Substantiation — Testing Every Word on Your Bottle
Ingredient TestingMaca Root Testing: Identity, Macamide Markers, and Heavy Metal Screening
Test MethodsMelamine Testing Supplements: Detecting Nitrogen Spiking by LC-MS/MS
Ingredient TestingPre-Workout Supplement Testing: Banned Stimulants and Label Accuracy
Ingredient TestingPsyllium Fiber Testing: Identity, Microbial Screening for Salmonella, and Water Activity
Ingredient TestingSaw Palmetto Testing: Fatty Acid Profile, Adulteration, Identity
Ingredient TestingSea Moss Testing: Iodine Content, Heavy Metals, Species Auth
ComplianceSkip Lot Testing for Supplements — When You Can Reduce Testing
ComplianceStructure/Function Claims Testing Requirements
ComplianceSupplement Facts Panel Testing Requirements
Getting StartedThird-Party Supplement Testing: Why It's Non-Negotiable
Ingredient TestingTurmeric Curcumin Testing: Potency, Lead Chromate, Identity
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