Explainer

What does “third-party tested” mean?

Short answer · as of 2026-10-05

As a label, “third-party tested” says only that someone other than the manufacturer or seller is said to have run a test. It does not say which lab, which tests, which lot, who chose the sample, or whether the lab is accredited for those tests. Those details are on the report, or they are missing.

By Peptide Industry Gossip · Published · General explanation, not legal or medical advice. Disclaimer.

What the phrase leaves out

This is our reading of the phrase, not a regulatory definition. We did not find a definition in the FDA and WHO documents we used for our COA pages.

  • Which laboratory ran the test, and whether it is accredited for those tests. Accreditation lists a scope of specific capabilities.
  • Which tests were run. A report may cover identity, purity, endotoxin or other tests, or only one of them.
  • Which lot and which sample. A report describes the sample submitted.
  • Who submitted the sample, and who paid for the testing.
  • When the test was done relative to the product's manufacture.

Questions to ask

  • Can I see the full report, not a summary or a badge?
  • Does the report carry the lab's name and address, a unique report number, the sample and lot identifiers, the methods, dates and an authorizing person? ISO/IEC 17025 expects these on an accredited lab's report.
  • Does the lab confirm the report when I contact it through details I found myself? See our verification guide.
  • Is a reseller providing the original manufacturer's COA as well, as WHO guidance expects?

What it does not establish

  • That the product is safe, legal to sell or suitable for human use.
  • That every lot was tested. One report covers the lot it names.

Sources

Quotes are from the FDA documents above, retrieved Oct. 5, 2026. FDA can revise those pages. See something wrong? Request a correction.

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