Identity Testing
TestingAlso known as: ID testing, Identity verification, Ingredient identification
Testing to confirm an ingredient is what the label says it is.
What It Means
Identity testing verifies that a dietary ingredient is correctly identified — that what's in the container matches what the label and COA claim. Under 21 CFR 111.75, manufacturers must verify the identity of each incoming ingredient lot. Methods include macroscopic/organoleptic examination, chemical tests (HPTLC, HPLC), and DNA-based methods (for botanicals). This is the most basic quality requirement.
What It Is Not
Identity testing only confirms WHAT an ingredient is — not HOW MUCH is present (that's potency testing), whether it's contaminated (purity testing), or whether it works (efficacy testing). Passing identity testing is the minimum bar, not evidence of quality.
Evidence and References
- regulation21 CFR 111.75
- standardUSP dietary supplement monographs
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