How to read a lab report like a scientist
Limits of detection, reference levels, serving sizes — the five things that quietly change what a number actually means.
Lab reports look intimidating, but most of the meaning lives in five places. Learn to find them and any report becomes readable.
First, the limit of detection. If a contaminant is reported as "below LOD," it means the lab couldn't measure it down to a certain floor — not necessarily that it's zero. A lower LOD is a more sensitive test.
Second, the reference level. A measured concentration only matters relative to a limit, and different regulators set different ones. Always check which benchmark a "pass" or "fail" is measured against.
Third, the serving basis. Many limits are expressed as a daily intake, which depends on how much of the product you actually eat. The same concentration can look very different for a snack versus a full meal.
Fourth and fifth: the sampling date and whether the product was tested more than once. A single sample is a snapshot; repeated samples reveal a trend. Together, those five details turn a raw number into something you can actually reason about.