"Can You Test This?" What to Know About Complex Botanical Matrices
How to approach blends, derivatives, and tricky plant-based materials with clarity and confidence
“Can you test this?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear—and we are glad people are asking.
In the world of botanicals, not all samples arrive in a neat, powder-in-a-pouch format. Some are concentrated extracts suspended in oil. Others are multi-ingredient blends with a dozen plants and additional excipients. Some products we test are pure, dried plant material, and others have been processed so heavily that there’s almost no trace of the original plant left except for one or two target analytes.
When you're dealing with a complex matrix, the real question isn’t “Can it be tested?”—it's “What are you hoping to uncover?” Many things can be tested, but the answers depend on asking the right questions.
The Problem with Complex Matrices
Plants carry the imprint of their environment. From where and how they’re grown to the timing of harvest, each factor influences the initial chemical profile. That profile continues to evolve through every step—processing, preservation, and formulation—shaping the final product. That level of background detail matters when it comes to how the sample will be tested in the lab.
The same plant will behave differently in raw powder form than it will in an ethanol extract or essential oil. And a material that’s part of a blend or finished dosage form introduces another layer of complexity. The matrix can interfere with the method, mask key markers, or make detection more difficult altogether.
Many identity and potency methods are validated for specific forms: whole herb, dried root, or a known ratio extract. When a sample falls outside that scope, applying the method as-is may yield incomplete or misleading results.
Fitting the Test to the Product
Blended products are especially challenging. It’s one thing to test a raw ingredient. It’s another to verify that a single botanical is present and identifiable in a finished blend that includes sweeteners, carriers, and half a dozen other herbs.
And when the target ingredient makes up just 3–5% of the formulation, its presence may be challenging to identify using existing methods.
This is where having the right reference materials and understanding method limitations becomes essential. We often advise clients to test their raw ingredients before blending, so they can trace and defend identity with confidence even if the final formula complicates detection.
Highly Processed Botanicals
Highly extracted, standardized, or fractionated ingredients present another unique challenge. These materials may no longer contain the full chemical fingerprint from the original plant. That doesn’t mean they’re adulterated, but it does mean we have to test accordingly.
Critical Questions to Ask Before You Send a Sample
Whenever you’re working with an especially novel or complex matrix, your first step isn’t to test—it’s to ask the right questions:
- What is the sample format (powder, oil, syrup, capsule, etc.)?
- What’s the goal of the test (identity, potency, adulteration check)?
- Is the ingredient raw, extracted, blended, or derived?
- Has this matrix been tested successfully before, or is it out of the current method scope?
If you’re not sure, ask your lab. A good partner will help you evaluate whether the sample is within the validated range of a given method and guide you toward an approach that fits.
What Eurofins Botanical Testing Does When You Send Us Something New
When a complex or novel matrix shows up at our lab, our process starts with investigation. We review the sample details, examine the method scope, and assess whether the testing approach is appropriate for the material.
If it’s not, we don’t guess. Instead, we’ll ask questions and find the right solution for your needs. We might:
- Recommend alternative instrumentation (e.g., LC-MS for low-concentration analytes, GC-MS for essential oils)
- Modify sample prep to remove interfering components
- Apply additional testing to confirm results across platforms
- Tap into our reference libraries to validate presence or absence of key botanical markers
In some cases, we may even recommend method development or validation—especially for highly specialized ingredients or proprietary formulations. A little bit of extra work up front in method setup can save untold time, cost, and regulatory risk later.
The Matrix Isn’t the Problem
Modern botanical products are more sophisticated than ever. Testing methods must keep up. It’s no longer enough to assume that identity testing on a crude powder will work for a refined extract or a liposomal capsule.
So when you’re wondering, “Can they test this?” Remember that the answer is often yes, but the path to that result may need some refinement and strategy to be scientifically valid.
As testing partners, we’re here to help you find the right method, match it to the matrix, and generate data that stands up to scrutiny no matter how complex your formulation gets.
Connect with our experts to navigate the complexities of botanical testing—let’s get started today.
