Choosing the right precious metal recovery company directly impacts the accuracy, value, and compliance of your recovery results.
Working with an unverified provider risks financial loss and regulatory complications. Understanding the essential criteria will help you evaluate and select a dependable partner.
1. Accreditation & Certification: A Key Foundation
Accreditations ensure the laboratory is technically competent and properly audited. ISO/IEC 17025 is the most important standard for analytical laboratories because it verifies accuracy, traceability, and repeatable results. At Ledoux & Co., our ISO 17025 accreditation confirms rigorous controls on equipment, methods, and personnel.
ISO 9001:2015 certification further demonstrates disciplined quality management and consistent procedures. Together, these standards reduce risk and provide confidence that every assay is defensible and properly documented.
These certifications matter because they confirm:
- Competent staff and calibrated instruments
- Controlled, traceable workflows
- Documented and audited processes
Always review the scope of accreditation to ensure it covers your material, such as PGM determinations, catalysts, or concentrates. Ledoux’s scope includes catalyst testing, PGMs analysis, and copper concentrates testing.
Request the certificate number, current scope list, and last audit date. A credible recovery company will share these immediately.
2. Industry Memberships & Recognitions
Industry memberships signal a company’s dedication to ethical standards and best practices. One of the most significant recognitions in the precious metals sector is affiliation with the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the global authority for precious metals trading, standards, and governance.
Before choosing a precious metal recovery company, it is essential to determine whether they hold LBMA-related memberships or recognitions. The LBMA maintains strict criteria for membership, ensuring that listed organizations uphold integrity, transparency, and due diligence across their operations. Service providers, assayers, and laboratories recognized as LBMA Affiliate Members demonstrate a measurable commitment to international standards.
Ledoux & Co. is proudly listed as an LBMA Affiliate Member (Assayer), reinforcing our alignment with global expectations for precision, transparency, and ethical practice.
This recognition matters because it shows:
- A commitment to industry-wide responsible sourcing practices
- Adherence to established sampling, assaying, and reporting protocols
- Greater assurance that your material will be handled with professionalism and technical rigor
When a company aligns itself with bodies such as the LBMA, it sends a clear signal that it upholds high standards of market integrity.
3. Transparency in Process & Reporting
A reliable precious metal recovery company must operate with complete transparency. You should never have to guess how your material is handled, sampled, or analyzed. Instead, the company should clearly explain each stage of the workflow, including sample preparation, assay techniques, data review, and report delivery.
At Ledoux & Co. – A Metallurgical Testing Laboratory in the US, we emphasize transparent procedures from start to finish. This includes offering on-site witnessing options so clients can observe critical steps when needed.
Key elements of process transparency include:
- Clear workflow explanations
- Documented chain of custody
- Options for independent witnessing
- Access to report templates
A sample report should contain:
- Material type and description
- The analytical method used (fire assay, ICP, gravimetric, etc.)
- Measured results
- Measurement uncertainties
- Comments related to sampling or custody
A credible laboratory will also explain how and when results are provided, how questions or disputes are resolved, and whether the data is suitable for commercial applications. At Ledoux, our commercial-grade precious metal assays are specifically designed to support financial transactions, toll settlements, and refinery negotiations.
Finally, accountability is essential. Ask for insights into:
- QA/QC programs
- Re-assay rates
- Procedures for addressing discrepancies or non-conformities
True transparency builds trust and protects your financial interests.
4. Analytical Accuracy & Methodology
Assay accuracy is the core of precious metal recovery. The correct method must be used for each type of feed material, whether bullion, scrap, concentrates, catalysts, or e-waste. Relying solely on surface-level methods like XRF is inadequate for most applications, especially when dealing with complex or heterogeneous feedstocks. As we emphasize at Ledoux, “Simply relying upon an XRF reading is not nearly enough.”
A competent recovery company should offer a broad suite of validated methods, including:
- Fire assay
- ICP-OES or ICP-MS
- Wet chemical analysis
- Gravimetric techniques
- Specialized procedures for catalysts, sludges, and electronics
Accuracy requires more than the right technology, it demands the use of certified reference materials, duplicate or triplicate assays, and calibration traceable to national standards such as NIST. These practices ensure results are defensible and suitable for commercial use.
A strong laboratory should disclose:
- Limits of detection
- Measurement uncertainty ranges
- Method validation data
- Suitability for specific material types
Before committing to a precious metal recovery company, ask for examples of how they have handled materials similar to yours, inquire about the estimated turnaround time, and confirm their ability to manage challenging feedstocks. Our team at Ledoux routinely analyzes catalysts, electronics, and other complex materials with proven methodologies.
5. Commercial-Grade Reporting & Financial Usability
Assay results must be usable for financial negotiations. A trusted precious metal recovery company supplies reporting formats accepted by refiners, tollers, and buyers. Ledoux provides commercial-grade results suitable for settlements and contract discussions.
Evaluate whether the company offers:
- Accepted report formats
- Predictable turnaround times
- Standardized or custom reporting
- Support for umpire or third-party re-assays
Beyond reporting, strong recovery companies offer technical guidance to help clients choose the correct assay method, determine sample size, and understand the composition of their feedstock. As we say at Ledoux, “We will work with you to determine the methodology that will deliver the analysis you need.”
Cost transparency is another essential factor. You should receive a clear and detailed fee schedule showing:
- Standard assay fees
- Sample preparation costs
- Charges for rush services
- Fees for additional or alternative methods
Understanding how assay results translate into financial value is critical for ensuring fairness in settlements and minimizing disputes.
6. Geographic Location, Logistics & Client Service
Location influences turnaround time, regulatory compliance, and communication. U.S.-based laboratories offer easier logistics and predictable jurisdiction. Ledoux & Co., headquartered at 389 Franklin Ave., Rockaway, NJ, provides accessible services throughout North America.
Key service factors include:
- Sample tracking and client communication
- Support with shipping, handling, and disposal
- Transparent timelines and status updates
- Processes for international clients
Reputation is equally important. With origins dating back to 1880, Ledoux & Co. provides more than a century of documented reliability and expertise.
Secure Your Recovery Results with a Trusted U.S. Laboratory Partner Ledoux
A trusted precious metal recovery company must demonstrate accreditation, transparency, technical accuracy, and commercial-grade reporting. At Ledoux & Co., we deliver all these qualities with the discipline and precision of a long-established U.S. laboratory.
Contact us to review your material, examine our accreditation documents, or submit a sample. We welcome the opportunity to support your next recovery project with certified, defensible results.
