Derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia for a variety of wellness benefits. Over the last few years, kratom use has started to become mainstream in the United States. As its star continues to rise, so too does the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of kratom products.
Lab testing is a critical part of the commercial sale of kratom. It ensures that kratom products meet safety standards and deliver what they promise. But what exactly are kratom labs testing for? How do you read a kratom test to understand the results? Can you really make sure that you’re getting clean, fresh, potent kratom products? Keep reading to find out.
Is Lab Testing Important?
Kratom is legal across most of the United States. In most of these states, however, the kratom trade is generally unregulated. This means that vendors can sell kratom with very few restrictions about marketing or processing unless they operate in a state that has passed specific kratom laws, such as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
Advocacy groups like the American Kratom Association are pushing for more kratom regulations to educate the public and protect kratom consumers. Unfortunately, without nationwide regulation, it’s easy for people to unknowingly buy low-quality kratom products – or kratom products that aren’t safe.
Laboratory testing ensures that the kratom being sold is as potent and fresh as advertised. It also guarantees that the product is accurately labeled with the correct strain, and free from potentially harmful contaminants. When you’re considering a product, however, make sure the testing is conducted by a third-party lab. This means the lab is not controlled by the kratom vendor itself. Third-party labs ensure the results are objective, unbiased, and accurate.
What Do Labs Test For?
Laboratories testing kratom are primarily looking for purity and potency.
Purity means the tested sample contains only pure kratom. It has no contaminants like bacteria or heavy metals, nor any artificial additives. Typically, kratom labs test for:
- Heavy metals. Ground soil can contain harmful heavy metals that may be absorbed by plants like kratom. Lab testing ensures that any such metals are not present in a concentration that would be harmful to consumers.
- Microbial contaminants. Labs look for unsafe quantities of bacteria, mold, pathogens, or other potentially harmful microbes that might have contaminated the kratom during harvesting, transportation, or packaging.
- Pesticides. Because kratom is a plant grown on farms, it’s important to screen out batches of the final product that may contain harmful levels of pesticide residue.
- Additives. Some vendors add preservatives to extend kratom’s shelf life or inflate its product volume. This can dilute the kratom or render it unsafe. Some unscrupulous vendors may even add chemicals or street drugs to enhance the kratom’s effects, which is extremely dangerous.
Potency refers to the concentration of kratom’s active chemical substances, known as alkaloids. The alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the primary substances that give kratom its effects. Different strains of kratom have different levels of alkaloid content. Lab testing reveals the amount of each alkaloid in a given product and guarantees that the kratom you’re buying is accurately labeled.
How Do I Read a Kratom Lab Test?
If you’re the type to check out primary sources, you can review a kratom lab report yourself! High-quality, trustworthy kratom vendors will have a lab certificate of analysis (COA) available upon request.
When you receive the lab results, focus on the alkaloid content and the concentration of any contaminants, like heavy metals or pathogens.
Kratom’s primary active alkaloids are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These levels should be high enough for potency, but not so high as to suggest synthetic compounds were added.
Results may vary depending on the strain and other factors, but good kratom will generally have a concentration of around 0.5% to 3% mitragynine and around 0.01% to 0.1% 7-hydroxymitragynine. There should be no opioids like fentanyl or hydrocodone present.
The concentration of contaminants should be below the safety thresholds for the relevant testing variable. For heavy metals, their respective safety thresholds include:
- Lead: Below 1.2 PPM (parts per million)
- Mercury: Below 0.41 PPM
- Arsenic: Below 2 PPM
- Cadmium: Below 0.85 PPM
Bacteria, including salmonella, e. coli, and staphylococcus aureus, should not be detected in the sample at all. Other bacteria should not exceed the following safety thresholds:
- Yeast and mold: Should not be detected at levels higher than 100,0000 CFUs (colony-forming units) per gram
- Coliform: Should not exceed 10,000 CFUs.
Pesticides should not exceed standards set by the USDA National Organic Program.
How Can I Tell if Kratom is Lab Tested?
If you want to be in control of your own health, it’s important to make sure you only take third-party lab-tested kratom. So before you pick up any kratom products, check the product labels and the brand’s website. Look for verification seals, certifications, or statements about their quality assurance process and the steps they take to guarantee quality and safety.
If the kratom vendor has been granted the American Kratom Association’s stamp of approval for Good Manufacturing Practices, you’re likely in good hands. The most trustworthy kratom companies are transparent about their manufacturing, testing, and quality assurance processes.
Get the Best, Certified, Lab-Tested Kratom at Mitra Bros
Whether you’re just starting your kratom journey or you’re an experienced kratom connoisseur, quality matters. Our kratom is third-party tested by certified laboratories to make sure we only provide you with best-in-class, premium-quality kratom products—no additives, no contaminants, no-nonsense. If you aren’t 100% satisfied, let us know and we’ll refund your order.
To make sure you get the most fresh, potent, and pure kratom on the market, check out what Mitra Bros has on offer.
