Through the development of improved methodologies for analytical testing of marker compounds and active ingredients, NLI is able to establish functional quality standards for many of the ingredients used in dietary supplement products. Laboratory testing of raw materials is a cost-effective step to ensure finished products are effective for consumers. In order to ensure that the raw materials meet your specifications, we have the expertise to perform these different analytical tests:

• HPLC – High Performance Liquid Chromatography
• TLC – Thin Layer Chromatography
• UV/VIS Spectrophotometer
• FT-IR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer
• Gas Chromatography
• Stability Studies
• Disintegration
• Dissolution
• Titration
• Analytical test methods: a complete list of NLI’s analytical test methods and marker compounds by ingredient is available upon request

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NLI offers high quality microbial testing services to ensure the safety and quality of your raw materials, in-process samples, and finished goods. NLI’s Microbial Laboratory management adheres strictly to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) referencing the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual and Official Method of Analysis of AOAC International pharmaceutical standards for consumable products. Our growth media preparations are prepared in-house, ensuring quality control and lot traceability.

NLI currently offers the following microbial testing procedures:

• Standard Plate Count
• Anaerobic Bacteria Count
• Yeast and Mold Count
• Salmonella (Presence, Absence, and Confirmation)
• E. coli (Presence, Absence, and Confirmation)
• P. aeruginosa (Presence, Absence, and Confirmation)
• Staphylococcus aereus (Presence/Absence)
• Gram Stain

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Physical laboratory testing is standard protocol for all incoming raw materials and ingredients to be used in manufacturing at NLI. All data is accurately recorded and specifications are established for each raw material on each test performed. We maintain all lots that enter our operation in a test result database. The database allows us to review historical trends of materials received. Reviewing historical trends facilitates accurate formulation estimates and ensures that materials can effectively be formed into specified finished products.

The following primary physical characteristic tests can be conducted by NLI:

• Organoleptic characteristics – Appearance, Smell, Taste
• Density – Bulk and Tapped
• Moisture
• Flowability Index
• Particle Size Determination
• Hardness
• Friability
• Disintegration
• Dissolution

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NLI knows that research and discovery are the driving forces behind great ideas and great products, and that growth opportunities in the Dietary Supplement and Pharmaceutical industries are contingent on effective efforts to identify unique and proprietary products and processes. The following are representative of goals that NLI’s Research and Development specialists can help you achieve:

• Develop therapeutically improved products
• Find new uses for existing products
• Replace existing synthetic treatments with natural medicines
• Identify raw materials with higher concentrations of active compounds
• Identify better consistency of raw materials
• Lower processing and material costs
  

Trust your research and development goals to a company with a long and positive track record of successful R & D projects. We have partnered with universities and other research groups in our effort to expand the scientific knowledge required for developing proprietary products and processes, with a core research focus in natural products and medicinal plants. Examples of R & D projects include:

• Arcticum lappa (Burdock)
  Development of analytical testing methods and multiple sample testing
• St. John’s Wort Research
  Studies focusing on growing/harvesting/processing optimization for improved therapeutic results
• Botanical Medicine Processing Research
  Studies focusing on new botanical medicine processing methods for improved therapeutic results
• Botanical Antioxidant Research
  Studies focusing on therapeutic improvements of grape-sourced compounds for fighting cardiovascular disease
  

Some of NLI’s Research and Development efforts were funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and the State of Montana Department of Agriculture. A grant application is currently under review by The National Institutes of Health.

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