Shilajit is one of those ingredients where quality is invisible to the naked eye. A resin that looks glossy and smells earthy can still carry heavy metals, adulterants or simply too little of the compounds it is prized for. That is exactly why serious buyers now ask a very reasonable question: "Show me the lab report."
At 3Tattava, we treat that request as fair — not as an inconvenience. This article explains how we source, purify and test every batch, and just as importantly, how you can read a report yourself so you are never trusting a label blindly. My aim here is education, not a sales pitch. Once you understand what a good report looks like, you can hold any brand — including mine — to the same standard.
Key Takeaways
- For Shilajit, a lab report is a safety document — not a marketing extra — because raw resin can naturally carry heavy metals.
- 3Tattava sources from a consistent high-altitude supply chain and treats every incoming lot as unproven until tested.
- Triphala-based shodhana (purification) is the classical refinement step; the lab test is what actually confirms the batch is clean.
- We use NABL-accredited labs and test per batch, covering heavy metals, microbial safety and fulvic acid.
- You can verify any brand yourself: check batch date, accreditation, heavy-metal limits and honest markers.
Launching soon. Join the founding waitlist for ₹200 off your first order.
Join the waitlist →Why lab reports matter for Shilajit specifically
Shilajit is a mineral-rich exudate collected from high-altitude rock. Because it forms in the environment rather than a controlled farm, raw material can naturally pick up heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. Unpurified or carelessly processed Shilajit is one of the more common sources of heavy-metal exposure flagged in Ayurvedic products.
This is why a lab report is not a marketing flourish for Shilajit — it is a basic safety document. Classical texts always insisted that Shilajit be purified (shodhana) before use, and modern testing simply gives us a measurable way to confirm that the purification worked.
How we source the raw resin
We source raw Shilajit from high-altitude regions where it is traditionally collected, and we work with the same supply chain across batches so the starting material stays consistent. Consistency at the source matters, because wildly different raw materials make it far harder to guarantee a stable finished product.
Every incoming lot is treated as unproven until tested. Sourcing from a trusted region is a starting point, never a substitute for verification — the resin still has to earn its place through purification and testing before it goes anywhere near a jar.
Triphala purification (shodhana), the classical way
Traditional Ayurveda purifies Shilajit using shodhana — a process of repeated washing and filtering, classically using decoctions such as Triphala. We follow this approach: the resin is dissolved, filtered to remove sand, rock grit and insoluble debris, and processed with Triphala before being concentrated back into resin.
The goal of shodhana is twofold: remove physical impurities and support a cleaner, more consistent final resin. It is worth being honest that shodhana is a traditional refinement step, and the definitive proof that a batch is clean comes from the lab test that follows — not from the process alone.
NABL-accredited testing on every batch
After purification, we send batches to NABL-accredited laboratories. NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation means the lab itself has been independently assessed for competence, so the numbers on the report carry more weight than an in-house claim.
Typical tests include heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium), microbial safety, and identity/quality markers such as fulvic acid content. Testing per batch — rather than once and then reusing the same certificate forever — is the part buyers should look for most closely, because it reflects the actual jar in your hand.
How to read a lab report (any brand's)
Start with three checks. First, the date and batch number — the report should correspond to a recent, identifiable batch, not a generic sample from years ago. Second, the lab name and accreditation — look for NABL or an equivalent recognised accreditation. Third, the heavy-metal results, which should be stated with the permissible limit alongside so you can see the margin.
Then glance at the markers: microbial counts within limits, and fulvic acid reported as a real measured value. Be a little sceptical of round, marketing-friendly numbers with no method mentioned. A trustworthy report reads like a document written for a regulator, not a customer — slightly dry, specific, and easy to cross-check.
Read our lab reports
Read our lab reports →Frequently Asked Questions
What is NABL accreditation and why does it matter?
NABL is India's National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. A NABL-accredited lab has been independently assessed for technical competence, so its results are more reliable than an unaccredited or in-house test.
Does purification remove heavy metals from Shilajit?
Traditional shodhana filtering removes physical impurities and supports a cleaner resin, but the only way to confirm heavy metals are within safe limits is a laboratory test on the finished batch — which is why we test each batch.
What is fulvic acid and should I look for it on a report?
Fulvic acid is one of the compounds commonly used as a quality marker for Shilajit. Seeing it reported as a real measured value (with a stated method) is reassuring, though it is only one part of an overall quality picture.
Is Shilajit safe for everyone?
Shilajit is traditionally used by healthy adults, but evidence for many specific benefits is still limited or preliminary. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a chronic condition, please consult a qualified physician before use.
How can I check a batch's report myself?
Match the batch number on your jar to the report, confirm the lab is accredited, and read the heavy-metal results against their permissible limits. A genuine report is specific and dated, not a generic certificate reused across products.
Founding Waitlist · Pre-Launch
Join the Founding Waitlist — ₹200 off your first order
3TATTAVA launches soon: Classically Triphala-purified, NABL third-party lab-tested Shilajit, formulated by Dr. Kashish Gupta (BAMS). Founding members lock in ₹200 off their first order and receive the lab report first.
Join the Founding Waitlist →No spam — just the lab report and your founding offer.
Related Reading
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a qualified physician before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a health condition.
