Supplement Lab Comparison — Eurofins vs SGS vs Intertek vs ALS vs Independent Labs

Quick answer

If you're trying to pick between Eurofins, SGS, Intertek, ALS, or a smaller independent lab for supplement testing, here's the honest breakdown.

Big chains give you name recognition and massive scope — but you'll pay a premium, wait longer, and getting a real human on the phone is a grind. Independent labs are usually cheaper, faster, and way more responsive — but their scope might be narrower and your Amazon reviewer might not recognize the name.

Which is better depends entirely on what you're testing, how fast you need it, and who's going to look at the report. Let's get into it.

Eurofins

Eurofins is the 800-pound gorilla of supplement testing. They've got labs in basically every country and their scope covers nearly every method you could name.

What they're great at: Massive method scope. If you need an obscure botanical identity test or a niche pesticide panel, Eurofins probably runs it. Their reports are thorough and their brand recognition is top-tier — nobody questions a Eurofins COA.

What's annoying: Pricing. Eurofins charges a premium for that name. Expect 20-40% more than a competent independent lab for the same panel. Customer service is hit-or-miss depending on which local lab handles your account. Getting a status update on a delayed report can feel like yelling into the void. Turnaround times stretch longer than quoted, especially during busy periods.

Bottom line: Use Eurofins when you need broad scope, deep method validation, or a report that carries weight with big retailers. Don't use them if you're on a tight budget or tight timeline.

SGS

SGS is similarly massive and globally recognized. Their supplement testing division is strong, particularly in Asia-Pacific and European markets.

What they're great at: Global reach. If you're selling supplements across multiple countries with different regulatory requirements, SGS can usually handle all regions under one roof. Their stability and shelf-life programs are well-regarded. Good for large portfolios where you need consistent testing across many SKUs.

What's annoying: Bureaucracy. SGS feels more corporate than Eurofins — more forms, more account managers who change every 6 months, more internal handoffs. If you're a small brand doing 2-3 products a year, you're a rounding error to them. Turnaround times for standard panels are fine, but anything custom or unusual takes forever to quote and even longer to execute.

Bottom line: Use SGS if you need multi-country testing with one provider and you've got the volume to justify the overhead. Skip them if you're a small brand that needs a lab that actually cares about your business.

Intertek

Intertek sits between the true giants and the mid-sized labs. They're big enough to have name recognition but not quite as sprawling as Eurofins or SGS.

What they're great at: Amazon compliance packages. Intertek has leaned hard into the Amazon seller market and offers pre-built compliance panels tailored to Amazon's supplement requirements. Their reports are clean, well-formatted, and rarely get questioned by Amazon reviewers.

What's annoying: Inconsistent quality between locations. Your experience depends heavily on which Intertek facility handles your samples. Some locations are great — responsive, fast, thorough. Others are a black hole. Pricing is also inconsistent between locations for the same tests.

Bottom line: Intertek is a solid middle-ground choice, especially for Amazon-focused brands. Just vet the specific lab location before committing.

ALS

ALS (Australian Laboratory Services) is smaller than Eurofins and SGS but very well-regarded in environmental and food testing. Their supplement division is growing.

What they're great at: Trace-level contaminant testing. ALS has deep expertise in heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental contaminants at very low detection limits. Their instrumentation and technical capability match the big players.

What's annoying: Smaller supplement focus. ALS's supplement testing division isn't as developed as their environmental or food testing operations. You might get routed through a food lab that does supplement testing on the side. The reports can feel less polished than Intertek's Amazon-ready COAs.

Bottom line: Good choice for heavy metals and contaminant panels. Less ideal if you need a full supplement compliance package with identity, potency, and microbial all from one lab.

Independent Labs

This category covers everything from well-established regional labs to small specialty testing operations. Think labs like Microbac, Certified Laboratories, or a local ISO 17025 lab that's been running supplement testing for 20 years.

What they're great at: Everything the big chains aren't. Pricing is typically 30-50% lower. Turnaround is faster — often 5-7 days when big chains quote 10-14. And when you call, a real person who knows your account picks up.

You're not account #8472. You're an actual customer they want to keep.

What's annoying: Scope limitations. An independent lab might not run every method you need. You might need two labs — one for heavy metals and micro, another for a specific potency assay. Name recognition is lower — an Amazon reviewer who's never heard of "Regional Testing Labs Inc." might scrutinize the COA more.

💡 Note

The sweet spot for many brands: use a reputable independent lab for routine testing and save the big chains for the one-off specialty tests the independent can't run. Best of both worlds.

The subcontracting truth nobody talks about

Here's something the big chains don't advertise.

When you send samples to Eurofins or SGS, they don't always run every test in-house. Sometimes they subcontract — especially for niche tests like botanical DNA authentication, specific pesticide panels, or unusual microbial assays.

Your sample goes to Eurofins. Eurofins sends it to a smaller specialty lab. That lab runs the test and sends results back to Eurofins. Eurofins puts it on their letterhead and sends it to you.

You paid Eurofins pricing. The work was done by a lab that would've charged you half as much directly.

Is this shady? Not really — it's standard industry practice. But it matters because:

• You're paying a middleman markup.
• The chain of custody gets messy.
• Turnaround time includes the subcontractor's schedule.
• If there's a problem with the results, you're talking to Eurofins who's talking to the lab who ran it — telephone game.

Decision matrix

Request quotes for this test

Not sure which lab is right for your product? LabQuotes can help you compare quotes from both big chains and quality independent labs. You choose based on real numbers, not marketing.

Quick Reference

Lab Category Matching

Match your testing needs to the right type of lab:

• Routine COA panels (heavy metals, micro, potency) → independent lab, save money
• Niche/specialty tests → big chain with scope, or specialty independent
• Multi-country compliance → SGS or Eurofins for global consistency
• Amazon-only compliance → Intertek or quality independent with clear ISO credentials

Real Methods Explained

What Sample to Send

Most labs need 50-100g or 10-20 finished units. For stability studies, you need separate retained samples at multiple time points — plan for 3-5x normal quantities.

Expected Turnaround Time

Independent labs: 5-7 business days. Big chains standard: 10-14 business days. Rush service: 3-5 days (all labs). Stability studies: weeks to months depending on duration.

Accreditation Notes

All labs discussed maintain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The critical check: verify the specific test method you need is within their scope. Big chains have broader scopes. Independents may have focused but narrower scopes.

Price Ranges

Basic COA panel: independent labs $250-$450, big chains $400-$700. Full compliance panel with pesticides: independent $600-$1,200, big chains $1,000-$2,500. Rush fees: 50-100% premium across the board.

Country/Region Targeting

U.S. market: A2LA/ANAB accreditation, all labs can serve. European market: prefer labs with UKAS/COFRAC/DAkkS accreditation — Eurofins and SGS have strong EU presence. Asia-Pacific: SGS and ALS have regional advantages.

Related guides

• Amazon Supplement Approved Lab List — What Labs Amazon Actually Accepts
• How to Upload a COA to Amazon Seller Central
• How Much Does Supplement Testing Cost?
• ISO 17025 Accreditation: What It Means for Supplement Testing

FAQ

Q: Is Eurofins really worth the higher price?

Depends. If you need massive method scope, multi-country compliance, or your retailer specifically requests a "name brand" lab — yes. For routine COA testing? No. A good independent lab delivers the same quality data for 30-50% less.

Q: Do big labs like Eurofins and SGS actually subcontract my tests?

Sometimes, yes. Niche or unusual tests may get sent to a specialty subcontractor. The results come back on the big lab's letterhead, but the actual work was done elsewhere. Ask your sales rep directly: "Will all testing be performed in-house?"

Q: Will Amazon accept a COA from a small independent lab?

Yes, as long as the lab is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by an ILAC MRA signatory body, is truly third-party, and the test methods are within their scope. Amazon cares about credentials, not brand name.

Q: Which lab is fastest for supplement testing?

Independent labs typically deliver fastest — often 5-7 business days versus 10-14 from big chains. But always get a written turnaround commitment before you pay. Every lab gets backed up during peak periods.

Q: Can I use different labs for different tests on the same product?

Yes, and many brands do. You might use one lab for heavy metals and micro (cheaper and faster) and a specialty lab for a niche botanical assay. Just be aware that Amazon may ask for a single comprehensive COA — check your specific compliance requirements.

Get lab quotes

Compare quotes from big chains and independent labs. Tell us what you need tested and we'll route your request to the right labs — whether that's Eurofins or a quality independent you haven't heard of yet.

• I want quotes from both big chains and independent labs
• I need heavy metals testing
• I need microbial limits testing
• I need potency/assay testing
• I need pesticide residue testing
• I need botanical identity testing
• I need stability/shelf-life testing
• I need nutritional label testing
• Price is my top priority — show me the most affordable options
• Speed is my top priority — I need rush turnaround
• Brand recognition matters — I need a well-known lab name
• I'm selling on Amazon and need compliance-ready reports
• I sell in multiple countries and need multi-region coverage
• I'm a small brand testing 1-3 products
• I'm a mid-size or large brand with ongoing testing needs