Alkemist Labs vs Gold Standard Analytics
Alkemist Labs in Garden Grove, California is the botanical-identity reference lab for the supplement industry: HPTLC and microscopy identity, an A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 scope (3851.01, dated June 2026, valid to February 2028) that explicitly lists mitragynine and 7-OH by LC-MS/MS, and a HealthLOQ workflow to authenticate an existing certificate. Pricing is by account and its assay list carries no numeric kratom fee. For a vendor who wants a price up front, a label in minutes and every certificate public, Gold Standard Analytics is the simpler route.
Alkemist Labs, Garden Grove, California. www.alkemist.com. Facts checked September 9, 2026.
Alkemist LabsWhat Alkemist does well
- A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 scope 3851.01 (June 10, 2026; expires February 29, 2028) explicitly lists mitragynine and 7-OH by LC-MS/MS.
- HPTLC and microscopy botanical identity plus botanical-contaminant screening, a distinct endpoint from alkaloid amount.
- HealthLOQ COA authentication lets a buyer check a certificate against the original document.
- Long-standing cGMP supplement identity testing reputation.
Side by side
| Gold Standard Analytics | Alkemist Labs | |
|---|---|---|
| Location and shipping | Gold Standard AnalyticsHouston, Texas. One laboratory at a published address. Kratom leaf, powder, extracts, capsules, gummies and shots ship from any state on the prepaid UPS label we issue. | Alkemist LabsGarden Grove, California. Shipping at your cost; account required. |
| Sample and program fit | Gold Standard AnalyticsKratom leaf, powder, extracts, capsules, gummies and shots for quality control and label claims. Concentrated 7-OH and derivative products are accepted case by case after we confirm the matrix; we hold no DEA registration. | Alkemist LabsKratom raw material and finished products for identity and assay; botanical contaminants. |
| Alkaloid potency | Gold Standard AnalyticsKratom seven-alkaloid profile $199 per sample: mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, speciogynine, speciociliatine and paynantheine by UHPLC-UV on the Agilent 1290 Infinity II, with LC-MS/MS confirmation of identity on the 6490 triple quadrupole. | Alkemist LabsMitragynine HPLC assay; mitragynine and 7-OH by LC-MS/MS within the inspected scope. Account pricing. |
| Low-level 7-OH and derivatives | Gold Standard AnalyticsLow-level 7-hydroxymitragynine by LC-MS/MS is run on the same accession when the UV result is below the reporting limit; the certificate states the method and the limit used, on an as-received basis. | Alkemist LabsMitragynine and 7-OH LC-MS/MS is within the accredited scope; treat it as a separate assay from the HPLC potency test. |
| Heavy metals | Gold Standard AnalyticsFour-metal panel (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) $149 by ICP-MS on the Agilent 7850 after closed-vessel digestion; nickel and chromium on request. | Alkemist LabsMetals offered within its supplement testing menu; no public kratom price. |
| Microbiology | Gold Standard AnalyticsBasic microbiology $89 (TAMC, TYMC, E. coli, Salmonella), expanded $179 adds S. aureus and coliforms; culture and enumeration with confirmatory PCR. | Alkemist LabsMicrobiology offered; no public kratom price. |
| Pesticides and solvents | Gold Standard AnalyticsPesticide screen from $269 by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS; residual solvents $99 for 24 targets by headspace GC-MS for extracts. | Alkemist LabsTargeted LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS pesticide panels in scope; no public kratom price. |
| Turnaround | Gold Standard AnalyticsStandard 5–7 business days, guaranteed in writing. 48-hour analytical expedite +$59; 24-hour potency +$80. | Alkemist LabsKratom-specific completion time not published. |
| Public results and raw data | Gold Standard AnalyticsEvery certificate public and searchable by accession, including failures and retractions; a client cannot remove one. Free JSON, CSV and Atom exports of the whole library. A signed NDA is the one exception and is stated on the record. | Alkemist LabsCOAs to the client; HealthLOQ authentication of an existing document. No browsable public library. |
| Chain of custody | Gold Standard AnalyticsEvery package opened on camera, each container photographed and blind-coded before it reaches the bench; footage and photos retained three years and tied to the accession. Raw chromatograms available on request. | Alkemist LabsSample submission instructions; no on-camera receiving or footage retention is published. |
| Ordering | Gold Standard AnalyticsSelf-service online intake with a live quote and an instant prepaid label; no account manager or quote form. API, MCP, Telegram and WhatsApp ordering. | Alkemist LabsSubmit-a-sample form and account setup; pricing by account. |
| Payment | Gold Standard AnalyticsCard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, wire, Mercury invoice with net terms, and any cryptocurrency. | Alkemist LabsNot published; invoiced to the client account. |
| ISO/IEC 17025 and scope | Gold Standard AnalyticsOperated to ISO/IEC 17025 expectations; not accredited, and we say so on every page. | Alkemist LabsA2LA ISO/IEC 17025 3851.01, expires Feb 29, 2028; MIT/7-OH LC-MS/MS explicitly listed. |
| Guarantee | Gold Standard AnalyticsMiss the quoted turnaround, or an accredited laboratory materially contradicts our result on a retest of the retained sample, and the panel fee is refunded. | Alkemist LabsNone published. |
Sources: alkemist.com, checked Sep 8 2026.
Published prices
| Test | Gold Standard Analytics | Alkemist Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Kratom alkaloid panel, 5 alkaloids | Gold Standard AnalyticsView current pricing | Alkemist Labs$0 |
| Low-level 7-OH by LC-MS/MS | Gold Standard AnalyticsView current pricing | Alkemist Labs$0 |
| Heavy metals, ICP-MS | Gold Standard Analytics+$169 | Alkemist Labs$0 |
| Microbiology panel | Gold Standard AnalyticsView current pricing | Alkemist Labs$0 |
| Pesticide screen | Gold Standard AnalyticsView current pricing | Alkemist Labs$0 |
| Full kratom quality package | Gold Standard AnalyticsView current pricing | Alkemist Labs$0 |
Alkemist publishes no numeric kratom prices; testing is quoted. Gold Standard prices are the published catalog. A dash means no public price.
Questions about Alkemist Labs and Gold Standard Analytics
Is Gold Standard Analytics a Alkemist alternative for kratom testing?
For kratom potency, 7-OH, metals and microbes at a published price with online ordering and a public certificate, yes. For HPTLC and microscopy botanical identity under an A2LA scope, Alkemist is the specialist and Gold Standard does not offer HPTLC.
How much does Alkemist charge for kratom testing?
Alkemist prices by account; its published assay list names methods and instruments without a numeric kratom fee. Gold Standard charges $199 for the seven-alkaloid profile, $149 for metals and $89 for microbiology.
Is Alkemist ISO 17025 accredited for kratom?
Yes. Its A2LA scope 3851.01 (dated June 10, 2026, expires February 29, 2028) explicitly lists mitragynine and 7-OH by LC-MS/MS; the HPLC assay is a separate line. Gold Standard is not accredited and operates to ISO/IEC 17025 expectations; we state that plainly rather than imply otherwise.
Which kratom alkaloids does Alkemist test?
Mitragynine by HPLC, and mitragynine plus 7-hydroxymitragynine by LC-MS/MS within scope; other alkaloids are not named on its public pages. Gold Standard reports mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, speciogynine, speciociliatine and paynantheine, with low-level 7-OH by LC-MS/MS on the same accession.
Can I verify a Alkemist kratom COA?
Alkemist offers HealthLOQ authentication to check a certificate you already have against the original; there is no browsable public library. Every Gold Standard certificate, including failures, verifies here by accession number and is exported to a public library anyone can download.
Where is Alkemist located?
Garden Grove, California. Gold Standard is at 5151 Mitchelldale St A10 STE B, Houston, TX 77092, and accepts kratom samples nationwide on a prepaid label.
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Submit a sample
Prepaid domestic label, public certificate, chain-of-custody video. Standard turnaround 5–7 business days.