For bulk spirulina, the certificate of analysis you care about most is the microbiology and heavy-metal panel, tied to your specific batch. For wild spirulina, add an origin-water quality test. Because spirulina is an aquatic biomass, contamination control is the heart of due diligence. This guide shows buyers exactly what to verify.
Last updated: 2026.
Why microbiology matters most for spirulina
Spirulina is a harvested aquatic biomass, so microbiological control is the central quality question. Unlike a dry root or seed, it is grown or gathered in water and dried, which makes the microbiology panel the clearest signal of whether it was handled and dried properly. A buyer who reads only the protein number and skips the micro panel is checking the wrong thing.
What a spirulina COA should cover
A complete spirulina COA covers microbiology, heavy metals, and contaminants, tied to your batch. Look for all of these:
- Microbiology: total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli, and Salmonella.
- Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.
- Contaminant screens appropriate to the source.
- Grade thresholds: food-grade limits, or ISO 17516 for cosmetic grade.
- Batch identity, so the results match the lot you receive.
See how we run the panel on our certificate of analysis process page.
Heavy metals and why source matters
Spirulina can take up heavy metals from its growing environment, so the heavy-metal result is a direct read on the cleanliness of the source. This is why origin and testing go together: a clean panel from a known, documented source is far more reassuring than a clean panel with no traceable origin behind it. Always confirm the heavy-metal results sit within your grade limits.
Wild spirulina adds origin-water testing
For wild-harvested spirulina, the harvest water is part of the specification. Our Lake Chad dihe is wild-harvested, so every batch ships with an origin-water quality test in addition to the standard microbiology, heavy-metal, and pesticide-residue panel. With a wild ingredient, testing the water it came from is not an extra; it is core due diligence.
How to verify the COA is genuine
Confirm the COA is tied to your batch and reports real results, not a generic specimen. Check that the lot number matches your shipment, that the testing dates are recent, and that the document lists actual values against limits rather than a blanket “pass.” If anything is unclear, ask the supplier directly before you accept the lot.
Frequently asked questions
What microbiology tests should a spirulina COA include?
At minimum, total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli, and Salmonella, with results against grade-appropriate limits. These are the core indicators of safe handling and drying.
Why is heavy-metal testing important for spirulina?
Because spirulina can take up heavy metals from its growing environment. A clean, batch-specific heavy-metal result, paired with a known source, is a key part of due diligence.
What extra testing applies to wild spirulina?
An origin-water quality test, because the harvest water is part of a wild ingredient’s specification. Our Lake Chad dihe includes this on every batch.
With spirulina, the COA is your due diligence, and microbiology is its heart. Verify the micro and heavy-metal panel, confirm the batch identity, and for wild material insist on origin-water testing. See specifications on our wholesale Lake Chad spirulina page.