How to Read Our Lab Reports — Parameters, Limits & What It Means

Understanding the Structure of a Lab Report

A typical NABL-accredited food safety lab report has these sections:

Header section:

• Sample identification number (unique to this test)
• Date of receipt and date of analysis
• Description of sample (product name, lot number)
• Client name and address (this is us — Organic Mandya)
• Lab name, address, and accreditation numbers

Parameters tested:

• A list of all substances tested
• The method used for each test (AOAC, IS, FSSAI method numbers)
• The result found for each parameter
• The unit of measurement (mg/kg, ppm, CFU/g, etc.)
• The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) or acceptable standard
• Pass/Fail status for each parameter

Summary:

• Overall conformance statement
• Lab director/scientist signature and seal

Key Terms Explained

ND — Not Detected This means the lab tested for this substance and found it below their Limit of Detection (LOD). It does NOT mean the substance was not tested for. ND is the best possible result for pesticide and adulterant tests.

MRL — Maximum Residue Limit The legal maximum permitted level of a pesticide on a specific food crop, set by FSSAI based on toxicological safety data. For example: chlorpyrifos MRL for rice is 0.1 mg/kg. A result of 0.05 mg/kg would pass; 0.2 mg/kg would fail.

LOD — Limit of Detection The lowest concentration the lab can reliably detect. Different labs have different LODs depending on their equipment. A more sensitive lab has a lower LOD. ND means “below our LOD” — which may still have trace amounts below the detection threshold.

LOQ — Limit of Quantification The lowest concentration the lab can reliably measure (higher than LOD). Below LOQ, the substance is detected but cannot be accurately measured. Results between LOD and LOQ may be reported as “trace.”

CFU/g — Colony Forming Units per gram Used for microbiological testing. Measures bacterial or fungal count. Each food category has maximum acceptable CFU counts.

ppm — Parts per Million (mg/kg) Standard unit for pesticide residues. 1 ppm = 1mg per kg of food.

How to Read a Pesticide Test Section

Sample pesticide report section:

Parameter	Result	MRL	Unit	Status
Chlorpyrifos	ND	0.01	mg/kg	PASS
Profenofos	ND	0.1	mg/kg	PASS
Imidacloprid	0.003	0.05	mg/kg	PASS
Acephate	ND	0.05	mg/kg	PASS

How to interpret:

• Chlorpyrifos: Not detected — the best outcome
• Imidacloprid: Detected at 0.003 mg/kg — BELOW the MRL of 0.05 mg/kg — PASS
• All parameters pass in this example

What to look for:

• Any result above its MRL = FAIL for that parameter
• Any FAIL = the lot should not have been released (and we don’t release it)
• ND for all parameters = cleanest possible result

Understanding Microbiological Results

Parameter	Result	Standard	Unit	Status
Total Plate Count	1200	<10000	CFU/g	PASS
Coliform	<10	<10	CFU/g	PASS
E. coli	Absent	Absent/25g	per 25g	PASS
Salmonella	Absent	Absent/25g	per 25g	PASS

How to interpret:

• Total Plate Count of 1200 is well within the 10000 limit
• E. coli Absent = excellent — indicates proper hygiene practices
• Salmonella Absent = food-safe

What “Conforming” vs “Not Conforming” Means

Conforming: The sample passed ALL tested parameters against the applicable standard. Not Conforming: The sample failed at least one parameter. Partially Conforming: Some parameters passed, some failed — uncommon in good reports.

Red Flags in Lab Reports

• Report without NABL accreditation number — not verifiable
• Report with no lot/batch number — cannot be traced to actual product
• Report showing results only for a limited selection of pesticides (cherry-picking easy-to-pass ones)
• Very old report used for current stock (reports should be lot-specific, not reused)
• Results that are exactly at the MRL limit — not necessarily fraud, but warrants scrutiny

Q

If a product has ND for all pesticides, does that mean it is completely pesticide-free?

A

Not necessarily — ND means below the lab's LOD (Limit of Detection). More sensitive labs have lower LODs and can detect smaller amounts. If a product is genuinely pesticide-free (true organic), it will show ND across all tests. But there is always a theoretical possibility of trace amounts below the LOD that are not measured. In practical terms: ND across a comprehensive pesticide panel from a sensitive lab is the best verification available outside of mass spectrometry research tools. For organic certification compliance, ND with confirmed-below-MRL is the standard.

Q

Our report shows results only for 20 pesticides — is that enough?

A

It depends on the crop. A comprehensive pesticide panel should cover the 50–100 most commonly used pesticides for that specific crop category. A turmeric report should test for pesticides relevant to spice cultivation; a milk report should test for veterinary drugs and persistent organochlorides. A 20-pesticide panel on turmeric may miss several important ones. At Organic Mandya, we use 100+ pesticide panels for crop products and discuss with our labs which specific compounds are most relevant to each crop. If you see a very short pesticide list on any food report, ask which compounds are included and why others were excluded.