Confirming Authenticity of the Herb
Before processing a batch of herbs, raw herbs must pass through a series of identification protocols to prevent against adulterated or incorrectly used herbs. Highly-trained technicians verify the exact species of the herb by microscopic inspection of its exterior and then take a chemical 'fingerprint' of the herb with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). When the exterior inspection and chemical profile are shown to match standards for the herb, it can be affirmed as authentic.

Next, the quality, potency and efficacy of herbs are assessed. A set of basic tests – including tests for moisture content, purity by ash content, acid-insoluble ash content and its water-soluble active ingredient content - indicate the basic quality of the herb. Herbs are also put under high-performance liquid chromatography, which indicate the specific concentration of active ingredient in the herb. Only the finest herbs pass these tests and are approved for production into granules. This affirms both the efficacy and the authenticity of the herb.

Confirming Quality and Safety of the Herbs
After processing herbs into forms such as granules and tablets, TLC and HPLC tests are repeated to affirm the authenticity and quality of the herb granules.

Comprehensive in-house state-of-the-art laboratories perform tests for safety, including microbiological assay, gas chromatography (GC), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis).

While KP's lab tests are already the industry's best, KP keeps abreast of the latest advancements and continues to implement cutting-edge technology such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and nanotechnology.