How Products Were Selected: Products were selected to represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Method: Products were tested for their claimed amount of CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol. Analysis for CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol was performed using a modified HPLC method (USP method) without the final ferric chloride step in an independent laboratory.
Disintegration of non-chewable, non-capsule, non-enteric coated and non-time-release formulations were analyzed utilizing USP (United States Pharmacopeia) <2040>.
Products not having passing levels of key ingredients were re-tested in a second independent laboratory using similar methods and instrumentation. All testing was conducted by independent laboratories to which the identities of the products were not disclosed.
Passing Score: * To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
Contain at least 100% of its labeled amount of CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol and no more than 150% of this amount.
Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin supplements (excluding capsule, enteric coated, chewable and time-release products).
Meet FDA labeling requirements.
A "Pass" was based on meeting the above criteria in either the first or second rounds of testing.
* Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate label information.
