Not all criteria are equal. The most critical is batch matching—if the report doesn't match the product, nothing else matters. Next is accreditation, because a non-accredited lab report is untrustworthy. Then recency, because old reports don't guarantee current quality. After that, check the scope of testing and nicotine accuracy.

In practice, here's my checklist:

• Batch match: non-negotiable.
• Lab accreditation: must-have.
• Recency: within 12 months.
• Substance coverage: meets your local regulations.
• Nicotine accuracy: within acceptable tolerance (usually ±10%).

If any of these fail, don't hesitate to push back. You're the one putting your business on the line.

For more on common pitfalls, check out our guide on Why Your Lab Testing Reports Get Rejected. And if you're verifying pod systems, our pod system review basics can help.