Nelson Labs has launched the Nelson Labs Mark, a verification programme for product testing that authenticates test reports and provides reliable data on product performance. Nelson Labs is a US-based leader in outsourced microbiological and analytical chemistry testing and advisory services for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

The new offering empowers consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing face masks and respirators and provides credible manufacturers with the means to differentiate their products from others on the market. Amidst a rise in fraudulent products and a surge in COVID-19 cases, Nelson Labs anticipates the programme will become a valuable tool for hospitals, municipalities, and commercial buyers, along with private consumers. The Nelson Labs Mark will begin with testing verification for masks and respirators but will expand to other products as the market requires, the company said in a press release.

To further increase consumer confidence, the Nelson Labs Mark includes two-factor authentication for consumers to easily confirm the legitimacy of a product’s testing. The company will allow manufacturers participating in the Nelson Labs Mark programme, whose products have undergone testing at Nelson Labs, to use the Nelson Labs Tested or Nelson Labs Verified mark on applicable product packaging and marketing, along with a corresponding web listing that includes detailed test reports outlining the performance of that product. The Nelson Labs Mark will help credible manufacturers stand out from the crowd and build trust through transparency. The new service, combined with world-class testing and expert advisory services, will help Nelson Labs, a Sotera Health company, further deliver on its mission of Safeguarding Global Health.

“With varying regulatory requirements and amended qualifications during COVID-19, it is difficult for today’s consumers to discern legitimate products from those that have not been adequately tested. The Nelson Labs Mark addresses this critical need for increased transparency by providing objective, verifiable performance data from our world-class laboratories,” Jeffery R. Nelson, chairman, Nelson Labs, said in a statement.