How Products were Evaluated: How Products were Selected: Products selected 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 amount of specific monacolins, disintegration, and potential contamination with citrinin and lead. Analyses for monacolins and citrinin was performed by HPLC/MS/MS. Analyses for lead was first performed using an ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy) method in an independent laboratory. Products not having acceptable levels of lead were then re-tested for the specific metal using an ICP-MS method in a second independent laboratory. Disintegration of non-chewable and non-time release formulations were analyzed utilizing USP (United States Pharmacopeia) <2040> recommendations.
The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
