Starwest Botanicals Most Important Quality Assurance Tests

Starwest Botanicals, Inc. meticulously tests all raw materials we receive. Our quality assurance testing continues throughout the entire production process. A battery of tests and procedures are used to ensure the quality of the raw materials we use and the finished products we sell. The following list represents a few of the most important tests we conduct:

Botanical Identification

1. Macroscopic: Evaluation of a sampled product based upon inspection of the products visual characteristics - texture, size, etc.

2. Microscopic: Evaluation of a sampled product based upon visual inspection, with the aid of a high powered microscope, of cells, cell walls, cell structure and characteristics, etc.

3. HPLC: Stands for High Pressure (Performance) Liquid Chromatography. This test provides verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard.

4. GC: Stands for Gas Chromatography. This test provides verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard.

5. TLC: Stands for Thin Layer Chromatography. This test provides verification of product identity when tested against a reference standard.

Organoleptic

1. Appearance: Samples of each product are evaluated based upon their general appearance and uniformity and are compared, to ensure conformance, to a known standard.

2. Color: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of color, to a known standard.

3. Aroma: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of aroma, to a known standard.

4. Flavor: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of flavor, to a known standard.

Physical Analyses

1. Particle Size: A sieve analysis is used to measure the total particle size distribution of a prepared sample. Whether the product is in the form of a powder, cut and sifted, or tea bag cut, particle size analysis can help a customer judge whether a product is suitable for their application.

2. Foreign Organic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign organic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.

3. Foreign Inorganic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign inorganic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.

4. Tapped Density: Measures the density of a prepared sample (g/ml). This test can help one discern packaging or encapsulation requirements.

Chemical Analyses

1. Moisture Content: Measures the amount of volatile matter (water) driven off of a prepared sample under specified conditions. Elevated moisture content can increase the likelihood of microbial growth.

2. Steam Volatile Oil: Measures the amount of water insoluble steam volatile oil present in a prepared sample. In many products, volatile oil is an indication of product quality.

3. Total Ash: Measures the amount of carbon-free ash present in a prepared sample. This test can give an indication of the quality and purity of a product, as all organic material will burn off leaving dirt, silica, etc.

4. Acid Insoluble Ash: This test measures, after total ash, the amount of acid insoluble ash present in a prepared sample. This test gives an indication of the quality and purity of a product.

5. Heavy Metals: This test measures metallic impurities in a prepared product sample. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific metal.

6. Pesticides: This test measures the amount of pesticide residue that a prepared sample contains. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific pesticide.

Microbiological

1. Total Aerobic Plate Count: This test allows for the detection and enumeration of aerobic microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.

2. Yeast and Mold: This test allows for detection and enumeration of yeast and mold microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.

3. Coliform: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Coliform.

4. E. Coli: This test allows for detection and enumeration of E. Coli bacteria.

5. Salmonella SPP.: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Salmonella Bacteria.