KAVA TESTING

Kava testing Capavilities

Analyte Sample Required Price
Metals via ICP/MS 2 g $90
As, Cd, Hg, Pb
Potency via HPLC $135
Desmethoxyyangonin, Dihydrokawain, Dihydromethysticin, Kawain, Methysticin, Yangoin
Pathogens via PCR 10 g $50
Salmonella spp. Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli
Indicator Organisms via Petrifilm™ 10 g $50
Aerobic Plate Count, Coliforms & E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Yeast & Mold
Totals: 22 g $325
Additional Offerings
Flabokawain A & B + $65 (+3 g additional sample)
Noble/Tudei Confirmation + $40
Pesticides & Mycotoxins +$165 each or $225 for both
Residual Solvents + $30

Notes:

Turnaround time 5 business days.

Ensure representative sample portion is submitted.

PCR detects 1 viable (live) cell in sample tested, yielding a Negative or Positive result

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) includes the following serogroups: O103, O11, O121, O145, O26, O45, O157:H7

Testing Procedure

The testing procedures documented above include microbiological and chemical safety parameters as well as potency/quality.

The pricing and amount of sample required per test is provided.

Potency Testing

Potency can be tested on the raw plant material or extracts/teas. Six kavalactones are extracted from the product using alcohol and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition to potency, the plant material can be classified as Tudei or Noble kava using a colorimeter.

Indicator Organisms Testing

The indicator organisms are extracted from the product using phosphate buffer and quantified on Petrifilm™. These organisms are used to give an idea of the cleanliness of the product:

  • Aerobic Plate Count (APC) – A general screen that allows for an at-a-glance determination of the total bacterial load.
  • Coliforms & Escherichia coli (CEC) – A screen for fecal bacteria and generic coli which can be indicative of product handling and cleanliness.
  • Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) – A specific test for the bacteria that causes staph infections.
  • Yeast & Mold (Y&M) – A screen for all yeast/mold species which can be an indicator of the degree of spoilage. These species can also greatly influence the sensory properties of a product.

Pathogens Testing

The pathogens E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella are enriched in product using organism-specific broths. These are then incubated and detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These organisms are dangerous bacteria that can cause extreme sickness and are sometimes fatal. It is recommended that any product that can harbor these pathogens be tested for their absence. If a product can be linked to an outbreak of these bacteria, it can result in a costly recall and/or legal ramifications.

Heavy Metals Testing

Heavy metals are analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The commonly tested metals are arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Nearly all botanical products will contain significant concentrations of heavy metals caused by uptake from soil or industrial processes. In products like kava, which are commonly consumed as teas, it is recommended that the metals be analyzed on an as-served basis. This will prevent overestimation of these analytes. If this test is requested, brewing instructions would be required.

Additional Testing Parameters

Additional testing parameters are available upon request, including, but not limited to: Pesticides, mycotoxins, and flavokawains.