How to Read Kratom Lab Tests

Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

We made this guide to help you understand Kratom Lab Tests. OG Botanicals believes independent-third party lab testing is important in the Kratom industry. This guide will go over everything Kratom should be tested for and the minimum passing levels. Since Kratom is a plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia we need to be on the lookout for pathogens like Coliforms, E. Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Salmonella, Yeast, and Mold. Heavy metals that should be tested for as well are Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb). We also test for concentrations of two alkaloids that naturally occur in Kratom which are Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine.  All of the Kratom we test comes with a Certificate of Analysis from an accredited third party lab and that’s another crucial step in verifying the legitimacy of the results. 

We don’t currently test every single strain but random representative samples from each supplier. As we grow we will be able to provide lab testing for each strain but for now, we do everything we can to minimize risk while ensuring affordability and accessibility. Our extensive pasteurization process ensures all potential Bacterial contaminants are killed. If you would like to know more about our pasteurization process we have another article discussing that. Additionally, we work in a clean environment and all tools used for packing and processing orders are regularly sanitized with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

We will give an example test to share our results and then go over all of the acceptable permitted limits for contaminants and alkaloids. These limits are industry-standard that we’ve verified from multiple sources. We wanted to clarify because our test results say “Record Only” and don’t provide those important limits.

Example Test

Lab Test 1/2
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Lab Test 2/2

Pathogens

Pathogens are important to test for because they impose a more immediate threat than heavy metals. We will go over all of the pathogens at risk to Kratom and what they are. 

  • Coliforms – A common family of bacteria found in soil and plants. Coliforms by themselves normally do not cause illness but are used to indicate the presense of other pathogenic organisms. Learn More
  • E. Coli – A bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. Some strains can cause severe food poisoning.  Learn More
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  • Salmonella – A bacteria that primarily impacts the intestines causing food poisoning. Learn More
  • Staphylococcus Aureus – A bacteria that can cause staph infections. Commonly found on the skin and in noses. Learn More 
  • Yeast 
  • Mold 

Yeast and Mold are tested because high levels can cause allergy issues in certain people and can be lethal in high enough concentrations, but this is uncommon. When below safe limits most people shouldn’t have any issues.

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Pathogen Testing Limits

  • Coliforms – 10,000 CFUs/gram (colony forming units)
  • E. coli – Absent in 10 grams
  • Staphylococcus Aureus – Absent in 10 grams
  • Salmonella – Absent in 10 grams
  • Yeast – 100,000 CFUs/gram
  • Mold – 100,000 CFUs/gram

Pathogen Test Results

  • Coliforms – 3,000 CFUs/gram – Pass
  • E. Coli – Absent – Pass
  • Staphylococcus Aureus – Absent – Pass
  • Salmonella – Absent – Pass
  • Yeast – 1,000 CFUs/gram – Pass
  • Mold – 1,000 CFUs/gram – Pass

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals comprise the next category of contaminants important to test for in Kratom. Heavy metals can leach into soil and water in the growing process and possibly from equipment used in the manufacturing process. It is very difficult to entirely eliminate all metals in any plant product so we try to find safe science-backed and industry-standard limits and stick to those to ensure safety.

  • Arsenic (As)
  • Cadmium (Cd)
  • Mercury (Hg)
  • Lead (Pb)

Heavy Metals Testing Limits

  • Arsenic (As) – 2 PPM (Parts per million)
  • Cadmium (Cd) – 0.85 PPM
  • Mercury (Hg) – 0.41 PPM
  • Lead (Pb) – 1.2 PPM

Heavy Metals Test Results

  • Arsenic (As) – <0.001 PPM – Pass
  • Cadmium (Cd) – 0.023 PPM – Pass
  • Mercury (Hg) – 0.016 PPM – Pass
  • Lead (Pb) – 0.446 PPM – Pass
Kratom Alkaloids

Kratom lab tests typically provide alkaloid contents for the two most important alkaloids which are Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine. Kratom has over forty Alkaloids that can widely vary in concentrations based on multiple factors just like a lot of other plants. Higher levels of Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are associated with a more potent Kratom powder.

Alkaloid Test Results
  • Mitragynine – 1.4%
  • 7-Hydroxymitragynine – <0.04%

Conclusion

OG Botanicals is focused on providing you with safe, high-quality products. We wrote this article to show our commitment to quality and we hope it helped you understand Kratom lab testing so you can make informed decisions. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at: support@ogbotanicals.co

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