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LeafWorks Launches Industry-First DNA Quantification Test for Mushroom Blends and Beyond

via Business Wire

New Test Delivers DNA Quantification, Filling a Critical Gap in Botanical and Functional Mushroom Testing

LeafWorks, a pioneering botanical genomics and testing company for natural products, today announced the immediate availability of DNA-based Quantification Testing for botanicals, starting with a focus on mushroom blends, a purpose-built assay that measures the composition of multi-species functional mushroom products.

Functional mushroom blends are gaining popularity, driving one of the fastest-growing categories in the natural products industry. Booming consumer demand has heightened the call for transparency, expanding pressure on manufacturers to confirm ingredient integrity amid complex supply chains.

LeafWorks’ Ingredient Quantification Testing provides quality control and quality assurance teams, sourcing managers and formulators the ability to validate ingredient composition with confidence—meeting 21 CFR 111 requirements, protecting against costly recalls and strengthening consumer trust.

Verifying mushroom blends can be a major challenge in processed materials—especially when using microscopy or when working with species of overlapping and/or variable metabolic profiles. LeafWorks’ DNA-based approach fills gaps with quantification that stands up to scientific and regulatory scrutiny.

“We’ve been hearing for years that brands struggle to verify what’s in their mushroom blends,” said Eleanor Kuntz, Ph.D., CEO of LeafWorks. “Now, with this new DNA-based quantification option, we’re giving them a tool that cuts through the noise. No guesswork. No ambiguity.”

To serve a wide range of industry needs, LeafWorks’ Ingredient Quantification Testing supports:

  • Accuracy: This test uses validated, species-specific markers.
  • QA/QC and product integrity checks: Confirm ingredient makeup against specifications.
  • Regulatory compliance: Meet 21 CFR 111 label verification requirements with third-party validated results.
  • Supplier validation and purchasing confidence: Audit claims in global supply chains with scientific precision.
  • Product development and R&D: Monitor blend consistency, guide formulation improvements and ensure purity.
  • Mycelium products: Quantify percent mushroom versus percent substrate with accuracy.
  • Affordable, rapid tests built to AOAC International standards

What sets LeafWorks apart is its reliance on species-specific DNA regions rather than universal barcodes, which are prone to false positives and negatives, and its use of qPCR to perform highly sensitive quantification. And—critically for mycelium products—this test can distinguish percent substrate versus percent mushroom, delivering a clear picture of product composition.

This rigorous design ensures accuracy even in complex blends, where mushrooms may share overlapping chemistry profiles or appear visually similar.

“This is a major step forward for the industry,” said Nick Batora, Managing Director and Head of R&D at LeafWorks. “Chemistry can show you that certain metabolites are present in a blend, but it can’t always tell you which species they came from. Many plants and mushrooms share overlapping chemistries, and metabolite profiles can shift depending on things like tissue type, growing conditions or environment. With qPCR, we can go straight to the DNA and identify the source species with quantitative accuracy—whether it’s mushrooms or substrates like oats or grain.”

By filling a critical gap in the quantitative verification of blends, LeafWorks is giving sourcing managers, QA/QC professionals, and product developers actionable data to support compliance, protect brand reputation, and strengthen consumer trust.

“Variation in ingredient amounts can cause major risks for companies trying to meet their label claims in complex blend formulations,” said Kerin Law, Ph.D., LeafWorks’ Chief Scientific Officer. “Our Ingredient Quantification Test solves that immediately.”

The LeafWorks® Ingredient Quantification Test, starting in mushroom blends, is available immediately. For more information or to inquire about testing, visit leafworks.com or contact info@leafworks.com.

About LeafWorks

LeafWorks Inc. is a botanical genomics company conducting cutting-edge research and developing commercial DNA testing services for natural products. Co-founded by CEO Eleanor Kuntz, Ph.D., and CSO Kerin Law, Ph.D., the company combines scientific rigor with uncompromising ethics, specializing in DNA identification—from species ID down to trait detection—to protect and empower business operators. The company provides the necessary testing and services that help cultivators preserve their genetic IP, improve efficiency and ultimately evolve their operations. Learn more about LeafWorks Inc. at leafworks.com and connect on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

“We’ve been hearing for years that brands struggle to verify what’s in their mushroom blends. Now, with this new DNA-based quantification option, we’re giving them a tool that cuts through the noise. No guesswork. No ambiguity.” - Eleanor Kuntz, Ph.D.

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