Check five things on a shilajit lab report: who the laboratory is, whether the sample matches your batch number, the report date, which tests were run (heavy metals, microbes, thallium) and whether results are below recognised limits. A report that is generic, undated or not tied to a batch tells you very little.
A lab report, also called a certificate of analysis or CoA, is the single most useful document you can ask a shilajit seller for. Used well, it turns "trust us" into something you can check. Here is how to read one.
What a shilajit lab report should show
Every report worth reading includes these basics:
- The laboratory's name and location. Recognised independent labs such as Eurofins are easy to verify.
- A report ID and issue date. Old reports may not reflect the batch you are buying.
- Sample details. The product type (resin, not powder), sample name and a batch reference.
- The tests performed and the method. Which elements, microbes or compounds were measured.
- Results with units. Usually mg/kg (the same as ppm) for metals.
- Limits of quantification. The smallest amount the lab can reliably measure.
Step by step: reading the results
1. Check the batch match
The sample reference should match the batch number on your tin. If the report is for "a batch" with no number, you cannot link it to what you are buying. For example, ShilNepal's Batch #1093 report references certificate sample SN-28-10-25 taken from that batch, and the batch number is printed on the tin.
2. Look at the date
A report from several years ago, or one issued before the batch was produced, cannot describe the batch in front of you. Dates should be recent and plausible.
3. Understand heavy metals results
Shilajit forms in mineral-rich rock, so it can naturally contain trace metals. A heavy metals panel typically reports arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and sometimes chromium and nickel. Results are compared with a limit.
Australia has no shilajit-specific limit in the Food Standards Code. Brands often use the closest published benchmark, the national standard for oral tablets, capsules and pills: arsenic 2 mg/kg, cadmium 1 mg/kg, lead 5 mg/kg and mercury 0.2 mg/kg, plus daily exposure limits from the ICH Q3D guideline.
4. Understand "not detected" and "less than"
"<0.002 mg/kg" or "not detected" means the metal was below the smallest amount the lab could measure. It is not the same as "zero".
5. Check what was not tested
A heavy metals report does not tell you about microbes, pesticides or thallium. Honest brands say this. The brand we rank first, ShilNepal, states that its Eurofins report covers heavy metals only and that some tests fall outside the lab's accreditation scope. That is the standard of disclosure you want.
Worked example: ShilNepal Batch #1093
| Element | Result | Benchmark limit |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 0.14 mg/kg | 2 mg/kg |
| Cadmium | 0.008 mg/kg | 1 mg/kg |
| Lead | 0.89 mg/kg | 5 mg/kg |
| Mercury | <0.002 mg/kg (not detected) | 0.2 mg/kg |
| Chromium | 13.1 mg/kg | No concentration limit |
| Nickel | 1.93 mg/kg | No concentration limit |
The report (Eurofins Food Australia, AR-25-NV-025372-01, issued 13 November 2025) shows every measured element below the benchmark. Lead is the closest at 0.89 mg/kg against 5 mg/kg. The brand also calculates that a single 0.3 g serve provides about 0.27 µg of lead, roughly 5% of the 5 µg daily limit it cites.
Fulvic and humic acid percentages
Many brands quote fulvic acid percentages. These come from compositional analysis rather than safety testing, and methods vary a lot between labs. Ask for the method and the lab. See fulvic acid in shilajit for how to treat these numbers.
Red flags in a lab report
- No lab name, or a lab you cannot find.
- No batch or sample reference.
- A screenshot instead of a full document.
- Only one metal tested.
- Results that appear to be copied from another product.
- Claims such as "lab tested" with no report at all.
What to do if a brand has no report
Email them and ask for the batch certificate of analysis. If a brand cannot or will not provide one, that tells you what you need to know. Our Australian ranking weights batch lab evidence at 30%, the highest of any criterion.
Frequently asked questions
What should a shilajit lab report include?
The lab name, report ID, date, sample details tied to a batch, tests and methods, results with units and limits of quantification.
What heavy metals are tested in shilajit?
Commonly arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and sometimes chromium and nickel. Thallium is less often tested.
What is a safe level of lead in shilajit?
Australia has no shilajit-specific limit. Brands often use the national standard for oral supplements: 5 mg/kg for lead, with daily exposure limits set by ICH Q3D.
Is a Eurofins report trustworthy?
Eurofins is a large independent laboratory group, which is a good sign, but you still need to check the report is for your batch and covers the tests you care about.
Which Australian shilajit publishes a lab report?
ShilNepal publishes a full Batch #1093 Eurofins report. See our lab-tested ranking.