NSF Certified for Sport®
Tests for 270+ banned substances. Required by many pro sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL). Contaminant & label accuracy testing. Gold standard for athletes.
USP Verified®
US Pharmacopeia verification. Tests label accuracy, purity, potency, dissolution, and GMP compliance. Consumer-focused; most rigorous for ingredient amounts.
Informed Sport®
UK-based, used globally. Every batch tested for banned substances. Favoured by Olympic athletes and sports governing bodies. Strict batch-level testing.
ConsumerLab◆
Independent testing organisation. Purchases products off shelves and tests label accuracy, contaminants, and disintegration. Publishes pass/fail reports.
FAQs
Does third-party testing guarantee a supplement works?
No. Third-party certification verifies that a supplement contains what the label says at the stated dose, is free of major contaminants, and is manufactured under GMP conditions. It does not verify that the ingredient is clinically effective for the intended purpose. A certified product with a clinically irrelevant dose of an ingredient is certified but ineffective. Always combine certification checks with evidence grade assessment.
Which certification is best for athletes?
NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport are the most recognised by professional sports leagues and anti-doping authorities (WADA, USADA). Both test specifically for substances banned in sport. NSF is preferred by North American leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA); Informed Sport is favoured by many Olympic sports and is the standard recommended by UK Anti-Doping.
What percentage of supplements are third-party tested?
Fewer than 5% of supplements sold in the US carry a recognised third-party certification. This means the vast majority of supplements on the market have not been independently verified for label accuracy, purity, or potency — they rely on manufacturer self-certification only.