Why We Publish Every Certificate of Analysis (And Why Most Brands Don't)

When we launched Longevity Formulas, we made a decision that seemed obvious to us but remains remarkably rare in the supplement industry: we publish the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for every single batch we produce. Not summaries. Not representative samples. Every batch, available to anyone who wants to see it.

This isn't normal. In fact, it's so unusual that customers regularly tell us they've never seen another supplement brand do it. Which raises an obvious question: if testing is standard practice in the industry, why don't more companies share the results?

The answer reveals quite a bit about how the supplement industry actually works and why transparency matters more than most people realise.

What Is a Certificate of Analysis?

A Certificate of Analysis is a document issued by an independent laboratory that verifies what's actually in a product. It's not marketing material. It's not created by the brand. It's produced by qualified analysts using calibrated equipment following standardised testing protocols.

For our NMN supplements, each CoA confirms several critical specifications:

Ingredient Identity and Purity

The lab tests that the active ingredient is actually what we claim it is (NMN Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) and measures its purity. Our specification requires ≥98% purity.

This matters because "NMN" on a label doesn't guarantee you're getting NMN. The lab uses specific analytical methods to identify and quantify exactly what's in the capsule.

Excipients and Inactive Ingredients

The CoA lists everything else in the capsule: the delayed-release capsule shell, the anticaking agents that prevent clumping, and any other materials used in manufacturing. For our product, that includes HPMC (the capsule material), magnesium stearate (a flow agent), and a delayed-release capsule coating.

Each component is tested and verified. The overall capsule weight, the weight of the active ingredient, and the weight of all excipients must match specifications within tight tolerances.

Physical Specifications

The CoA confirms physical characteristics like colour, form, and dissolution specifications. Our delayed-release capsules are designed to protect the NMN from stomach acid.

Safety Testing

The CoA confirms product safety through appropriate testing protocols. This testing shouldn't be optional, it's essential. But not all brands test every batch, and very few will show you the results.

Storage and Stability

The CoA includes storage requirements and the expiry date, confirming the product will remain stable and effective through its shelf life when stored properly.

Walking Through a Real CoA

Let's look at our actual CoA from batch 2306H2023, manufactured in August 2025. This testing was carried out by BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) certificated laboratories on behalf of our supplier. 

The header identifies the product (NMN Nicotinamide Mononucleotide 500mg Capsules), our SKU code (PL-360), the batch number (2306H2023), the manufacture date (25/08/2025), and the best before date (24/07/2028).

The core ingredient section shows: NMN Nicotinamide Mononucleotide ≥98%: Input 510,000mg, Label Claim 500,000mg

This tells you we're putting more NMN into production than the label claims to account for any minimal losses during encapsulation and to ensure every capsule meets the labelled amount.

The excipients section breaks down everything else: HPMC (capsule material): 153,000mg Magnesium Stearate: 10,200mg HPMC Delayed Release Capsule Shell Size 00: 125,000mg Overall Average Capsule Weight: 788,200mg

The specifications section provides the physical details: capsule shell size (00, measuring 6±0.2mm), core weight (788.2mg), disintegration time (less than 20 minutes), shelf life (2 years from manufacture), and complete packaging details.

The document includes allergen declarations (no common allergens, though precautions are noted for cross-contamination), confirmation it's suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and the manufacturing declaration confirming production in the UK in GMP certified facilities.

Most importantly: it's signed by the director, John North, taking personal responsibility for the accuracy of this document.

The Economics of Transparency

Publishing every CoA requires choosing suppliers and partners who share your commitment to quality. Here's why most brands don't do it:

Testing Requirements Comprehensive third-party laboratory analysis through BRCGS certificated facilities isn't cheap. Testing including identity verification, purity analysis, and safety screening can cost hundreds to over a thousand pounds per batch.

Some brands work with suppliers who only test periodically, perhaps one batch in ten, or once per year. They assume that if one batch passes, the others will too.

We specifically chose suppliers who test every batch through BRCGS certificated laboratories. This means working with partners who invest significantly more in quality assurance. It's a substantial commitment, but it's non-negotiable.

Testing Might Reveal Problems Consistent testing sometimes reveals issues. A batch might come back below specification for purity. The encapsulation process might have introduced variation. The raw material might not quite meet standards.

When this happens, responsible suppliers reject the batch, potentially discarding thousands of pounds worth of product because it didn't meet specifications.

Suppliers who don't test every batch never discover these issues. Suppliers who test but don't share results can quietly handle problems internally. When you publish every CoA, everyone is accountable for every result.

It Sets a Standard You Must Maintain Once you publish your CoAs, you can't stop. You've set an expectation with customers that every batch will be tested and verified. You can't quietly skip testing because you're confident in your supplier or trying to save costs.

This level of commitment requires systems and processes that many brands simply don't want to take on.

It Reveals Your Formulation A detailed CoA shows competitors exactly what's in your product and in what quantities. We believe transparency matters more than keeping formulation details private.

What Competitors Hide (And Why)

The supplement industry has a significant quality problem that most consumers don't see. Here's what brands typically don't want you to know:

Underdosing Some products contain less active ingredient than the label claims. Sometimes this is innocent manufacturing variation. Often it's not. A brand might label a product as 500mg but only include 400mg, banking on the fact that customers will never test it.

Published CoAs make this impossible. If our label says 500mg and the CoA shows 300mg, that's fraud in writing for anyone to see.

Purity Issues Many ingredients aren't available in 100% pure form. NMN, for example, is available at varying purity levels, with the specification being a key differentiator. Some suppliers offer lower purity at reduced prices.

When we publish a CoA showing ≥98% purity and an input of 510,000mg for a 500,000mg label claim, you can verify exactly what you're receiving.

Contamination Concerns Supplements can potentially contain contaminants picked up during ingredient sourcing or manufacturing. This is especially relevant with ingredients sourced from certain regions or manufactured using particular processes.

Responsible brands test for safety. Others don't, or they test only occasionally. Published CoAs provide transparency about the testing conducted for each batch.

Inconsistency Batch to Batch Manufacturing isn't perfectly consistent. Variation within acceptable ranges is normal.

When you publish every CoA, this variation becomes visible to customers. Most brands prefer to keep this variation private. We think customers deserve to see it.

Why This Matters to You

If you're spending money on supplements, you deserve to know what you're actually getting. Not what the marketing claims, not what the label says, but what's actually in the bottle, verified by independent testing.

Efficacy Depends on Accurate Dosing Research on supplements uses specific doses of specific purity levels. Knowing exactly what's in your supplement ensures you're getting amounts consistent with published research.

Safety Requires Verification Testing and verification aren't just about quality, they're about safety and giving customers confidence in what they're taking.

You're Making a Long-Term Investment Many people take supplements daily for years or decades. You should know exactly what you're putting in your body every single day.

Customer Demand Drives Industry Change Many brands cut corners because they can. Without customer demand for transparency, there's no incentive to incur the extra cost of comprehensive testing. When customers demand CoAs and choose brands that provide them, the industry will be forced to improve.

The Commitment to Transparency

Publishing every CoA requires commitment. It requires choosing suppliers who share your quality standards. It occasionally means rejecting batches that don't meet specifications. It means we can't cut corners because everything is visible and public.

It's worth it.

We started Longevity Formulas because we couldn't find supplements that met the standards we wanted for ourselves. We wanted pharmaceutical-grade purity, verified testing through BRCGS certificated laboratories, UK manufacturing in GMP certified facilities, and complete transparency. We specifically chose suppliers and partners who could deliver this.

Publishing every CoA is the only way to prove we're actually delivering on our promises. Anyone can claim their supplements are "pharmaceutical-grade" or "rigorously tested." We can show you the evidence, batch by batch, test by test.

This is what supplement manufacturing should look like. This is what customers deserve. And this is what we're committed to delivering, every batch, without exception.

You can view the CoAs for all our current batches at longevityformulas.co.uk/pages/nmn-certificate-of-analysis. We encourage you to look at them, understand them, and ask questions. We also encourage you to demand the same level of transparency from every supplement brand you consider purchasing.

If they won't show you the testing results, you should ask yourself why.