Reference materials and the quality of a product

The market for the use of natural products in one's diet and health regime is increasingly growing and changing all at the same time through out the world. Old products are re-formulated or new hip products take the market by storm and then fall by the way side after the current dietary fad. In other countries, products may even be regulated as drugs. Now with the US FDA cGMPs official for dietary supplements, guidelines are now in place to ensure consumers are purchasing a safe and quality product. The quality and safety of a product is highly dependent on the reference material used during the analysis process, whether qualitative or quantitative. Proper testing procedures begin with a proper reference material and/or standard. The level of characterization of the reference material can have a drastic effect on the quantitative values obtained. This can then in turn have a major effect on the biological and health benefits of the product. Depending on the testing protocols used for the characterization of a reference material, there can easily be a difference of 10% or higher in the analytical values. This poster discusses and defines the proper characterization of a reference material and give examples on how different reference materials have a direct effect on the quality and safety of a product.