Garden Grove, CA (June 13, 2024) –Alkemist Labs has released a list of the botanicals and fungi that most frequently failed identity testing during the first half of 2024. As the companies that test with Alkemist tend to be what CEO Elan Sudberg describes as “the best of the best” Alkemist may not see as many failures as some other labs are likely to, but believes that sharing the ingredients that are currently the most problematic is valuable to the industry.

All were tested using High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) to assess identity and quality of botanicals and various ingredients. HPTLC, for which Alkemist holds a flexible scope ISO 17025 accreditation, is able to detect adulterants and contamination, such as containing incorrect plant parts, closely related species, and unknowns. This technique is applicable to crude raw botanicals from powdered to whole form, extract (powdered or liquid), and finished product/blends. 

This list is representative of the products Alkemist’s manufacturer clients are testing before they put them into their products as well as some finished products.