The Phytality Testing Protocol

Every algae supplement company says it tests its products. Very few describe what that actually means: which tests, on which parameters, at what stage, using which labs, and what happens when a batch fails. The last question is the one that matters most, because every company publishes its best results. The revealing question is what happens to the bad ones. We have had batches fail. It is not a comfortable experience, and the decision to reject rather than retest is never costless.

What Gets Tested in Every Batch

Heavy Metals: The Full Four-Metal Panel with Arsenic Speciation

Lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury are tested on every batch. If you have ever picked up a supplement and wondered what the numbers on the back actually mean for your body, these are the four that matter. For marine-origin products, arsenic is speciated to distinguish organic from inorganic forms, because total arsenic alone does not tell you which fraction you are consuming.

Every batch gets its own certificate of analysis linked to the batch number on your product. The detection limits are stated alongside every measurement. We use ICP-MS as the analytical method because it achieves the sensitivity needed to detect metals at levels well below regulatory thresholds.

Microbial Contamination

Total aerobic plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli, and Salmonella. Whole-food algae powders are biological products. The presence of E. coli or Salmonella at any level is an automatic batch failure, regardless of what every other test shows.

Nutrient Potency

EPA content, protein content, and key micronutrient levels in each batch are verified against the label declaration. A batch that tests below the declared EPA concentration does not ship, even if it passes every other test. We learned early on that the label is a promise your customer reads differently from the way your production team reads it. They see a number and trust it. We test to make sure that trust is deserved.

When Testing Happens in the Production Process

Quality checks run at three stages. Incoming raw material verification confirms that inputs meet specification before they enter the production system. In-process monitoring during cultivation catches problems early, before they become finished-product problems. Formal independent testing on the finished product after drying and processing generates the CoA you can request.

In-process testing is quality control. Finished-product testing through an independent lab is quality assurance. Both serve a purpose, but only the second gives you a result you can trust without trusting us first. We covered that distinction in our article on third-party testing in the UK.

What Happens When a Batch Fails

It does not ship. If a batch exceeds our internal limits for any tested parameter, it is rejected. Our internal thresholds are tighter than EU regulatory maximums. The regulatory limit is the legal floor, not our quality target.

A failed batch is not retested until it passes. It is not blended with a cleaner batch to dilute the result. It is not relabelled for a market with looser standards. A failure is recorded, and it triggers a root-cause investigation in the production process. We trace back through the cultivation conditions, water inputs, and nutrient sources to identify what changed.

This matters because "what happens when it fails" reveals more about quality commitment than any number of passing results. If you are evaluating a supplement brand, ask them this question. The answer, or the absence of one, tells you what you need to know.

How Our Internal Limits Compare to Regulatory Limits

EU regulatory limits for food supplements set the legal maximum: lead at 3.0 mg/kg, cadmium at 1.0 mg/kg, mercury at 0.1 mg/kg. These are the thresholds below which a product is legally permitted to be sold. They are not the thresholds at which we are satisfied.

Our internal acceptance limits are set below the regulatory maximums for all four metals. We do not publish the exact figures because they are commercially sensitive, but the principle is straightforward: the regulatory limit is where the law draws the line. Our limit is where we draw it, and it is lower. If you want the specific numbers for the batch you are holding, ask us for the CoA.

What This Testing Protocol Does Not Cover

Microplastics

We do not currently test for microplastics, and we should be straightforward about why. The analytical methods for microplastic quantification in food-grade powders are still being standardised, and no widely accepted regulatory threshold exists. We would rather acknowledge the gap than imply we have it covered. We will adopt microplastic testing when reliable, accredited methods become available. This gap is addressed in our contaminant elimination article.

B12 Speciation

B12 speciation testing, which distinguishes bioavailable cobalamin from pseudocobalamin, is not performed on every batch. We recommend dedicated B12 supplementation rather than reliance on chlorella for this nutrient. The B12 question is covered separately.

The Phytality Testing Protocol FAQs

Can I see the test results for the specific batch I purchased?

Yes. Every batch has its own certificate of analysis from an independent, accredited laboratory. Contact us with your batch number and we will provide the document. Detection limits are stated alongside every measurement so you can evaluate the results yourself.

What analytical method do you use for heavy metal testing?

ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), which achieves detection limits of 0.001 to 0.01 mg/kg for most metals. This sensitivity is necessary to detect contaminants at levels well below regulatory thresholds and to make "not detected" results genuinely meaningful.

Why do you speciate arsenic when most brands report only total arsenic?

Total arsenic includes both inorganic arsenic (a carcinogen) and organic forms like arsenosugars (intermediate toxicity). In some algae products, inorganic arsenic can represent over half the total. Reporting only total arsenic does not tell you which fraction you are consuming, and the health implications are very different.

What happens to a batch that fails testing?

It is rejected. No retesting until it passes, no blending with cleaner batches, no relabelling for other markets. The failure triggers a root-cause investigation tracing back through cultivation conditions, water inputs, and nutrient sources to identify what changed in the production process.

Are your internal limits stricter than EU regulatory limits?

Yes, for all four metals. We set acceptance thresholds below the EU regulatory maximums. The regulatory limit is the legal floor. Our limit is where we draw the line based on what we consider acceptable for a product people take daily.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

Methodology and Disclosure

This article describes Phytality's internal testing protocol as practised at the time of publication. Arsenic speciation data cites Almela et al. 2002 (J Agric Food Chem). EU contaminant limits cite Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as retained in UK law. Laboratory accreditation cites ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Vendor disclosure: This is a manufacturer's account of its own testing protocol. It is not a neutral review. Phytality has a commercial interest in its testing standards being understood as rigorous. The gaps in testing coverage (microplastics, B12 speciation) have been stated directly.