Product Reviews:
Product Reviews are CL's independent tests of multiple brands of products claiming to have the same key ingredient. Product Reviews have the following features:
Exclusively directed by CL.
Products tested are purchased independently by CL at the retail level (stores, mail order, online, etc.). CL does not accept product samples from manufacturers for Product Reviews and CL may select samples at any time during the year (to avoid sampling bias).
Products are selected by CL to reflect popular brands in the market as well as a selection of smaller brands.
Products are tested at nationally and internationally recognized iIndependent commercial and academic laboratories that are qualified and selected by CL based on their expertise for the type of specific testing needed for each product. These facilities carry various Federal (FDA, EPA, USDA, DEA) and State licenses and accreditations and follow good laboratory practice (GLP) protocols. Many of these laboratories go beyond the basic requirements and have additional accreditations by independent outside groups (ISO, A2LA, etc), participate in method validation programs, and undergo regular proficiency testing evaluations to further demonstrate their analytical capabilities.
Blind samples (the identities of the products and exact label claims are not disclosed) are sent to the testing laboratories in order to eliminate potential bias. Any products not having passing levels of key ingredients or contaminants are re-tested in a second independent laboratory using similar methods and instrumentation. CL's expert research staff closely evaluates the work of these laboratories.
After a Product Review is completed, results for products selected for testing by CL are available online to subscribers. Products that have passed the Voluntary Certification Program (see below) are also listed in respective Product Reviews.
Brands that "Pass" may carry the CL Seal of Approval upon acceptance by the manufacturer of the CL Seal Use License Agreement (described below).
Product Reviews are repeated periodically (approximately every 24 to 36 months) for each product category. However, CL may re-test brands at any time. A change in a brand's test results will be reflected in CL's Web site and will affect eligibility for the CL certification seal.
Full reports of Product Reviews are available in Product Review Technical Reports sold by CL.

Policy Toward Manufacturers of Products that Fail to Pass CL Testing:
Manufacturers of products that fail to pass CL's testing may request a summary of CL's test results, product lot number, expiration date, and place and date of purchase for such product. This information is provided by CL at no cost within three business days of receipt of written request.

CL maintains reserve samples of all products that it tests. If a manufacturer of a tested product disputes CL's findings, CL will offer reserve sample for repeat testing by a third-party laboratory of mutual acceptance to the manufacturer and CL. The manufacturer will directly pay the selected laboratory. There is no charge by CL for providing and shipping the sample. CL and the manufacturer must each publicly announce results of the re-testing on their websites on a page accessible through links from their homepages.

Voluntary Certification Program:
Manufacturers and distributors interested in the potential of having their products certified by CL, listed among the Approved Quality Products in CL's Product Reviews and bear the CL Seal may participate in the Voluntary Certification Program. Testing is conducted in the same manner as Product Reviews with test samples not accepted directly from the manufacturer.

There is a testing fee paid by the manufacturer and results are proprietary to the manufacturer. However, if a product "Passes," it may appear in CL's Web site listing of the respective Product Review with a footnote indicating that it was tested through the Voluntary Certification Program. A product that "Passes" is also eligible to carry the CL Seal of Approval upon acceptance by the manufacturer of the CL Seal Use License Agreement (described below).

Due to economies of scale, testing fees are lower for products that fall within a category about to undergo a Product Review. Manufacturers and distributors should contact lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com if they wish to be alerted to upcoming Product Review categories.

Multi-Label Testing Program:
For manufacturers of private label and multi-brand products seeking to participate in CL's Voluntary Certification Program, CL offers the Multi-Label Testing Program option. Manufacturers must provide proof that the formulations are identical for all products and all sampled products must pass testing for products to be listed as Approved Quality.

Raw Material & Private Label Certification Program:
Suppliers of ingredients to manufacturers may have their materials evaluated by CL using the same testing methods employed in Product Reviews. If the material passes testing, a Certificate of Approved Quality is issued to the supplier, who may use it in its marketing to clients and prospective clients.

Athletic Banned Substances Screening Program:
Manufacturers, sports associations, and others may have dietary supplements and nutrition products tested for substances that could result in an athlete being disqualified from competing in Olympic or other competition. The screening program includes testing for specific stimulants, narcotics, anabolic agents, diuretics, masking agents, and beta-blockers based on the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code or the codes of other sports associations. Such products can also be evaluated for their active ingredients using the same criteria and testing methods employed in Product Reviews. There is a testing fee paid by the requestor, to whom the results are proprietary. If a product "Passes," the requestor may have it listed on CL's Web site for the respective Product Review with information indicating the substance(s) for which it was screened. Passing products are also eligible to carry the CL Seal of Approval upon acceptance by the manufacturer of the CL Seal Use License Agreement (described below).

Custom Analyses and Consulting:
Parties wishing to engage ConsumerLab.com's research staff to perform special purpose testing, analyses, or consulting should contact research@consumerlab.com. Examples of assignments include testing of material for clinical trials, expert analysis and opinion for litigation, and concept/product testing for new product development.