The actual laboratory analysis certificate -- all three pages -- is reproduced below. This is the actual certificate for the first shipment received by B&B International -- 25 KG. Note that the name of the factory is blanked out, but that Vibrant Life is shown as the company for whom this was manufactured. B&B is a division of Vibrant Life.
Notice that the "purity" is shown as 99.452% while the moisture is shown as .548%. These two figures total 100%. This means that when tested to three decimal points the purity of the material is 100.000% including a very small amount of moisture -- not considered an impurity.
Our factory normally uses "SGS" as its independent testing laboratory. The lab in India has facilities near the factory and has done many of these tests on these products.
SGS testing is done regularly on our MSM and other bulk products. When someone wants a test for a particular batch, the cost charged by SGS is $500 or 1.5% of the FOB value of the shipment, whichever is higher.
Such a test means that the SGS inspector comes to the factory, when the drums (one batch) are ready to be shipped. The inspector then decides how many of the drums he will use in a sample -- all or part of them. He draws a sample from each such drum. He then places an SGS seal on the drum so that it cannot be opened without breaking the seal.
He then blends all his samples together and runs a laboratory test on this blended sample from that batch. His certificate, then, relates to that particular batch. Each drum of that shipment would have the same batch number written on the drum.
The certificate then can be said to reliably represent the entire shipment.
For any order where a Letter of Credit arrangement is being made it is common for the LC to include the requirement that the particular shipment be tested by an independent testing lab and that the certificate accompany the documents (bill of lading, invoice, etc.).
The buyer is then assured that HIS batch has been tested for purity, and has the test results as an official part of the documentation on his purchase. In these cases the buyer normally pays for the testing, as above.
For many years, we have served diverse industries in the third party testing and inspection field as United States Testing Company, Inc. Founded in 1880 in New York City, the company began testing silk and developed expertise in such fields as Biology, Chemistry, Consumer Product and Material Evaluations ranging from textiles to toys, packaging to plumbing.
The illustrious backgrounds of United States Testing Company, Inc. and the SGS Group have come together to provide clients with the most extensive, reliable and diversified quality services in the world.
Now that we are known as SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., clients can still be assured that they have not only selected the best choice for their domestic testing, inspection and analysis requirements, but they can also access the best services internationally.
Each SGS U. S. Testing branch office specializes in areas of independent testing, inspection and certification services. Regulatory agencies inspect our laboratories on a periodic basis or as part of performance evaluations. For specific branch location and contact information, please refer to our Company Address List or call 1-800-777-TEST.
In order to help us judge the effectiveness of our Internet publicity effort, we encourage you to e-mail our United States Corporate Office location at:
In the United States, SGS U.S. Testing laboratories are located in:
SGS U. S. Testing Company Inc. Corporate Headquarters
291 Fairfield Avenue