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Alberta Canada, T6E 0P5
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Natural Health Product & Supplement Testing in Canada

Natural health product and supplement testing helps manufacturers, importers, brand owners, ingredient suppliers and product developers evaluate microbiological quality, composition, raw materials, contaminants and finished products against defined specifications.

The right laboratory testing program depends on the product, matrix, ingredients, specification and decision the analytical results need to support.

PBR Laboratories provides laboratory testing support from Edmonton for natural health products, supplements and related ingredients across Alberta, Western Canada and Canada.

Our approach goes beyond generating analytical data. PBR helps clients understand the testing options relevant to their product and how laboratory results can support practical quality decisions.

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Natural Health Product Testing Services Canada - PBR Laboratories
Decision-Focused Testing

What Natural Health Product Testing Can Help You Decide

Laboratory testing may be required at different points between incoming ingredients and finished-product release.

Testing can support decisions such as:

Should an incoming ingredient lot be accepted?

Evaluate incoming materials against defined purchasing specifications before use in manufacturing.

Does a product meet an established microbiological specification?

Compare analytical results against applicable microbiological limits for the product category.

Is an unexpected microbial result significant?

Evaluate unexpected results in context of the specification, matrix and applicable quality framework.

Does the measured composition align with the intended specification?

Verify that measured nutritional or compositional values align with the formulation and intended claims.

Should botanical ingredients be investigated for mycotoxins?

Assess mycotoxin risk in botanical, agricultural and plant-derived ingredients based on source and storage history.

Does a finished product meet defined release criteria?

Support batch-release decisions by comparing finished-product test results against established specifications.

What additional testing may be appropriate after an unexpected or out-of-specification result?

The analytical method and sampling plan should be selected around the decision being made. Results apply to the submitted sample, and sampling design affects how confidently those results can represent a larger lot or batch. This is a core principle in PBR's testing framework.

Partners in Quality

WHO NEEDS NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCT TESTING?

PBR supports organizations across the natural health product supply chain:

NHP Manufacturers

Microbiological quality, USP testing, nutritional analysis, and finished-product release programs.

Botanical & Herbal Product Companies

Microbiology, mycotoxins, moisture and ingredient-specific parameters for botanical formulations.

Supplement Brands

Nutritional composition, microbiological quality, and product specification testing.

Ingredient Suppliers

Incoming lot assessment, supplier qualification, and microbiological verification testing.

Importers & Brand Owners

Raw material testing, finished product assessment, and specification compliance programs.

Sports Nutrition Companies

Nutritional composition, microbiological quality, moisture and ingredient characteristics.

Product Developers

Formulation verification, product development, label development and quality specifications.

Vitamin & Mineral Product Companies

Testing selected according to formulation, product specification and analytical objective.

Analytical Services

NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCT & SUPPLEMENT TESTING SERVICES

Comprehensive laboratory testing programs tailored to your product matrix, specification and regulatory requirements.

United States Pharmacopeia Testing Canada

United States Pharmacopeia Testing

What Is USP Testing?

PBR provides selected testing using recognized United States Pharmacopeia methods for applicable natural health products, supplements, ingredients and related matrices.

USP Methods Available
USP <61> — Microbial Enumeration Tests
Total Aerobic Microbial Count, Total Yeast and Mould Count
USP <62> — Tests for Specified Microorganisms
Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
USP <2021> / <2022> — Nutritional & Dietary Supplements
Yeast & Mould, Total Aerobic Plate Count, Bile-Tolerant Gram-Negative Bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa
USP <85> — Bacterial Endotoxins Test
Gel-Clot Assay for applicable matrices
Decisions Supported
  • Finished-product specification assessment
  • Quality-control decisions.
  • Investigation of unexpected results.
  • Batch-release programs.
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Natural Health Product Microbiology Testing

Natural Health Product Microbiology Testing

What Is NHP Microbiology Testing?

Microbiological quality can be an important component of raw-material assessment, finished-product specifications, investigation and product-release programs.

Common Services
  • Total Aerobic Microbial Count.
  • Yeast and Mould.
  • Bile-Tolerant Gram-Negative Bacteria.
  • Escherichia coli.
  • Salmonella species.
  • Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Decisions Supported

Ingredient acceptance → Manufacturing investigation → Finished-product assessment → Product-release decisions → Corrective action

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Nutritional & Composition Analysis Supplements Canada

Nutritional & Composition Analysis

What Is Nutritional & Composition Analysis?

PBR provides analytical capabilities that can support nutritional and compositional evaluation of applicable supplement, ingredient and finished-product matrices.

Common Services
Proximate Analysis
Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Dietary Fibre, Sugars, Total Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Ash, Moisture
Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium, Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D
Decisions Supported
  • Product development.
  • Formulation verification.
  • Ingredient evaluation.
  • Quality specifications.
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Ingredient & Raw Material Testing Natural Health Products

Ingredient & Raw Material Testing

What Is Ingredient Testing?

Quality decisions can begin before a natural health product reaches manufacturing. Testing raw materials and ingredients can provide analytical information supporting informed decisions.

Common Services
  • Supplier Qualification Testing.
  • Incoming Lot Acceptance.
  • Ingredient Characterization.
  • Microbiology | Moisture | Water Activity.
  • Mycotoxins | Selected Contaminant Testing.
  • Contamination Investigations.
Decisions Supported
  • Supplier qualification.
  • Incoming lot acceptance.
  • Purchasing specifications.
  • Comparison with supplier documentation.
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Mycotoxin Testing Natural Health Products Canada

Mycotoxin Testing for Natural Health Products

What Is Mycotoxin Testing?

Botanical, agricultural and other plant-derived ingredients can present mycotoxin concerns depending on the material, growing conditions, storage and processing history.

Common Services
  • Aflatoxin B1.
  • Aflatoxin B2.
  • Aflatoxin G1.
  • Aflatoxin G2.
  • Total Aflatoxins.
  • Ochratoxin A.
Decisions Supported
  • Supplier qualification.
  • Incoming ingredient acceptance.
  • Investigation of suspect materials.
  • Comparison against established specifications.
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Moisture & Water Activity Testing Supplements Canada

Moisture & Water Activity Testing

What Is Moisture & Water Activity Testing?

Moisture content and water activity provide different information about a natural health product or ingredient. Because they answer different questions, they should not automatically be treated as interchangeable measurements.

Common Services
  • Moisture Content Testing.
  • Water Activity Testing.
  • Ingredient Storage Assessment.
  • Product Stability Evaluation.
  • Powder Consistency Assessment.
Decisions Supported
  • Ingredient storage decisions.
  • Product stability.
  • Susceptibility to microbial growth.
  • Shelf-life behaviour.
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Product-Specific Programs

TESTING BY PRODUCT TYPE

Different natural health products present different analytical risks and testing questions.

Botanical & Herbal Products

Microbiology, mycotoxins, moisture and other ingredient-specific parameters may be relevant depending on the formulation and source materials.

Explore Botanical & Herbal Product Testing →
Powdered Supplements

Microbiology, moisture, water activity, composition and ingredient consistency can be important considerations for powdered products.

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Vitamin & Mineral Products

Testing should be selected according to the formulation, product specification and analytical objective.

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Protein & Sports Nutrition Products

Relevant analytical questions can include nutritional composition, microbiological quality, moisture and ingredient characteristics.

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Capsules & Tablets

Testing programs should reflect the ingredients, dosage form, finished-product specification and quality decision.

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Liquid Supplements

Microbiological quality, composition and stability-related parameters may be relevant depending on the formulation and product specification.

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Out-of-Specification Results

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCT FAILS SPECIFICATION?

Review the Applicable Specification

An unexpected or out-of-specification result does not automatically mean that simply repeating the same test is the appropriate next step.

Assess Sample Representativeness

Consider sample identity, sample representativeness, matrix suitability, analytical method, and ingredient information.

Review Manufacturing Records

Consider supplier documentation, manufacturing records, previous results and related analytical parameters.

Discuss Follow-Up with PBR

The appropriate follow-up depends on the product, result, specification and quality system. PBR can help clients understand the analytical result and discuss relevant testing options.

Learn More

Read: What Happens When a Natural Health Product Fails Specification? →

Got Questions?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What tests are used for natural health products in Canada?

The appropriate testing depends on the product, ingredients, dosage form, specifications and quality risks. Testing may include microbiological enumeration, specified microorganisms, nutritional or compositional parameters, moisture, water activity, mycotoxins, contaminants and other product-specific analyses.

What United States Pharmacopeia testing does PBR provide?

PBR provides selected testing using United States Pharmacopeia <61>, <62>, <2021>, <2022> and <85> for applicable matrices. These methods address different microbiological and endotoxin-testing objectives. Clients should discuss their product matrix, specification and testing objective with PBR to determine the appropriate method.

What is the difference between United States Pharmacopeia <61> and <62>?

United States Pharmacopeia <61> addresses microbial enumeration, while United States Pharmacopeia <62> addresses tests for specified microorganisms. They answer different microbiological quality questions and may be used together depending on the product and specification.

What is the difference between United States Pharmacopeia <2021> and <2022>?

United States Pharmacopeia <2021> addresses microbial enumeration for applicable nutritional and dietary supplement products, while <2022> addresses testing for specified microorganisms in applicable supplement matrices.

Does PBR provide United States Pharmacopeia <85> endotoxin testing?

Yes. PBR's service catalogue documents United States Pharmacopeia <85> bacterial endotoxin testing using the Gel-Clot Assay. Clients should confirm matrix applicability and sample requirements with PBR before submission.

Can PBR test supplements for nutritional composition?

PBR's documented capabilities include protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, sugars, fats, fatty acids, selected minerals, ash, moisture and selected vitamins. The appropriate panel depends on the formulation and analytical objective.

Can botanical ingredients be tested for mycotoxins?

Yes, for applicable matrices. PBR's documented capabilities include aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A. Because mycotoxins can be unevenly distributed, representative sampling is important when results will support lot-level decisions.

Should ingredients or finished natural health products be tested?

It depends on the analytical parameter, product specification and decision. Ingredient testing may support supplier and incoming-lot decisions, while finished-product testing can support assessment against finished-product specifications.

What should I do when a natural health product result is outside specification?

Review the result against the applicable specification and consider sample representativeness, matrix suitability, analytical method, ingredients, supplier information and manufacturing records before deciding on follow-up testing. The appropriate response depends on the product and quality system.

Does PBR provide natural health product testing outside Alberta?

Yes. PBR is based in Edmonton and supports clients throughout Alberta, Western Canada and Canada. Contact PBR to confirm matrix suitability, sample requirements and available testing.

RELATED SERVICES

Natural Health Product Microbiology Testing United States Pharmacopeia Testing Nutritional & Composition Analysis Ingredient & Raw Material Testing Mycotoxin Testing Finished Product Testing

RELATED RESOURCES

Need Natural Health Product or Supplement Testing?

Not every natural health product requires the same testing program.

Tell PBR:

what the product is → what matrix is being submitted → what specification applies → what analytical question needs to be answered.

PBR can then discuss relevant testing options, method applicability and sample requirements.

Choose PBR — Because Precision Matters, Defining Excellence in Laboratory Services Since 1984.
Request a Quote Ask About Sample Requirements Speak With PBR About Your Product