Microbial Testing for Ayurvedic & Herbal Products
Botanical raw materials are inherently susceptible to microbial colonisation during cultivation, drying, and storage — and a failed microbial result blocks GMP batch release. Auriga Research provides NABL-accredited microbial testing for Ayurvedic and herbal products, covering total aerobic count, yeast and mould enumeration, and specified-pathogen absence testing for raw herbs, churnas, asavas, arishtas, extracts, and finished Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha formulations.
Our testing applies the AYUSH GMP guidelines and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India microbial limits, the Indian Pharmacopoeia / USP <61> & <62> methods, and the WHO Technical Report Series No. 863 reference for medicinal plant materials. As the first herbal testing laboratory in India to be licensed by the Directorate of ISM&H, backed by the Arbro Group's unbroken NABL accreditation since 2003, Auriga is a long-established reference lab for the AYUSH sector.
Aflatoxins / mycotoxins are tested separately
Aflatoxins and other mycotoxins are chemical contaminants, not microbiological parameters, so they are not part of this microbial-count panel. Auriga tests aflatoxins B1/B2/G1/G2 and ochratoxin A by LC-MS/MS as a separate mycotoxin analysis — add mycotoxin testing to your order via the Herbal & AYUSH hub or ask your SPOC.
Microbial Testing Parameters
Each parameter is mapped to its method and limit so AYUSH QA and export teams can match scope to the GMP / WHO requirement at a glance.
Total Aerobic Count
Total aerobic microbial count per IP / USP <61>; AYUSH oral limit ≤ 10⁵ CFU/g.
Yeast & Mould Count
Total combined yeast and mould count; AYUSH oral limit ≤ 10³ CFU/g.
Escherichia coli
Specified-pathogen absence testing — not detected (AYUSH / IP).
Salmonella
Absence testing — not detected per 25 g.
Staphylococcus aureus
Absence testing for topical and specified preparations.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Absence testing for topical and specified preparations.
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria enumeration where specified.
GMP Limit Compliance
Compliance against AYUSH GMP / API microbial limits by route of administration.
WHO Reference
Microbial specifications per WHO Technical Report Series No. 863 for medicinal plant materials.
Validated Methods
Enumeration and specified-organism tests by IP / USP <61> & <62> membrane filtration / plate methods.
AYUSH Microbial Limits — Oral Herbal Products
| Parameter | AYUSH GMP Limit (oral) |
|---|---|
| Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) | ≤ 10⁵ CFU/g |
| Total yeast & mould count (TYMC) | ≤ 10³ CFU/g |
| Escherichia coli | Not detected |
| Salmonella | Not detected per 25 g |
Topical and specified preparations carry additional absence requirements for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. WHO Technical Report Series No. 863 provides the corresponding international reference.
How It Works
Get a Quote
Share your product type, the route of administration (oral / topical), and the regulatory target (AYUSH GMP, FSSAI, or export). Your dedicated SPOC confirms the microbial panel, the applicable limit set, and the exact sample quantity required before you dispatch anything.
Send Your Sample
Dispatch your sample in its sealed original packaging with a completed Test Request Form to the nearest Auriga lab. Each sample is individually bar coded and registered in YLIMS, Auriga's in-house Laboratory Information Management System, upon receipt. Testing begins within 24 hours of sample registration.
Testing and QA Review
Your sample is tested by IP / USP <61> & <62> methods in Auriga's NABL-accredited microbiology lab — enumeration plus specified-pathogen detection, with growth-promotion and method-suitability controls so antimicrobial herbs do not suppress recovery. Every result passes a formal internal QA review and sign-off before the report is generated.
Receive Your NABL Report
Your NABL-accredited test report is delivered digitally within the committed turnaround time. Reports carry Auriga's NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, state the route of administration and limit basis applied, and are accepted for Ministry of AYUSH GMP, FSSAI, and EU / WHO export submissions. You can track sample status in real time through YLIMS.
Turnaround Time
| Service | Standard TAT | Express |
|---|---|---|
| Total aerobic count (TAMC) + yeast & mould (TYMC) | 5–7 business days | — fixed by incubation |
| Specified pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa) | 5–7 business days | — fixed by incubation |
| Method suitability / bacteriostasis validation | 7–10 business days | On request |
| Complete microbial quality panel | 7–10 business days | On request |
| Mycotoxin add-on (aflatoxins / OTA by LC-MS/MS) | 5–7 business days | Available |
Who Needs Microbial Testing
- AYUSH-licensed manufacturers needing batch-wise microbial data for product release and GMP compliance.
- Herbal and Ayurvedic exporters needing EU and WHO TRS 863 microbial-limit compliance.
- Herbal supplement and nutraceutical brands running pre-launch and batch-release testing.
- Contract manufacturers and white-label suppliers certifying finished formulations.
- Raw-herb and extract suppliers screening incoming material for microbial load.
- Topical / cosmetic-Ayurvedic manufacturers needing S. aureus / P. aeruginosa absence data.
- D2C and e-commerce herbal brands needing batch compliance for marketplace listing.
- Importers verifying herbal raw material before India sale or re-export.
- QA teams investigating shelf-life or storage-related microbial excursions.
- Brands contesting a marketplace or regulatory microbial finding with accredited data.
Why Auriga for Microbial Testing
First herbal lab licensed by the Directorate of ISM&H
Auriga was the first herbal testing laboratory in India to be licensed by the Directorate of ISM&H — a long-established reference lab the AYUSH sector trusts.
AYUSH GMP + WHO TRS 863 limits
Results reported against the AYUSH GMP / API microbial limits by route of administration and the WHO Technical Report Series No. 863 international reference.
Method suitability for antimicrobial herbs
Growth-promotion and bacteriostasis / method-suitability controls run with every job, so naturally antimicrobial botanicals do not suppress recovery and produce a false pass.
Microbiology + chemistry under one roof
Microbial counts, pathogen testing, and the separate mycotoxin (aflatoxin / OTA by LC-MS/MS) analysis all in-house — one consolidated quality picture without cross-lab handover.
Export-market ready
Reports formatted for EU and WHO export submissions alongside AYUSH GMP and FSSAI — supporting both domestic licensing and export compliance.
Arbro Group NABL accreditation since 2003
Two decades of continuous ISO/IEC 17025 conformity through the Arbro Group — the audit trail AYUSH manufacturers and exporters look for.