Test reports: not tested, N/A or inconclusive?
Treat not tested as missing test evidence, not applicable as an exclusion needing justification, and inconclusive as an unresolved result. Check the laboratory's definitions and resolve each relevant gap before approval. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate factory information and laboratory questions through its own staff in China.
Read the entry using the laboratory's definitions
Start with the report legend, scope, footnotes and conclusion. The labels below are working interpretations for a buyer, not universal laboratory definitions. Ask the issuing laboratory to explain any undefined abbreviation or status. A pass elsewhere in the report does not resolve an excluded or unfinished item. Use the test report verification guide for checks on authenticity and product identity.
| Entry | Working interpretation | What to request |
|---|---|---|
| Not tested | This report supplies no test result for that item. | The reason, whether the item is relevant, and the evidence or testing needed. |
| Not applicable | The laboratory has treated the item as outside the sample's applicable assessment. | The clause-specific reason and the product facts supporting exclusion. |
| Inconclusive | The assessment has not established a clear outcome. | What prevented a conclusion and what would resolve it. |
Get the explanation from the issuing laboratory
Send the report reference, affected clause, sample identity and your question directly to the laboratory using independently verified contact details. Ask whether the entry reflects the customer's requested scope, an unsuitable sample, missing information, a method limitation or an interrupted test. These are possibilities to investigate, not reasons to assume.
For an inconclusive result, ask whether uncertainty, conflicting observations or a problem with the test prevented a decision. Request the available observations, the acceptance criterion and any decision rule used. Ask whether clarification, another sample, a changed method or repeat testing is needed. Keep the laboratory's written response with the report; ask for a formal amendment if the report itself needs correction.
Check exclusions and requirements absent from the report
A report can omit a relevant requirement without showing a not tested entry. Compare its scope against your product specification, intended use, materials, accessories and destination market. Keep a coverage record linking each requirement to a report clause or other evidence. GOV.UK guidance for the Great Britain conformity marking regimes says manufacturers remain responsible for assessing product risks, identifying relevant requirements and documenting how they are addressed.
For not applicable, ask what feature or condition makes the clause irrelevant to the actual ordered configuration. An absent battery might support exclusion of a battery-specific test; a missing battery from an incomplete sample does not establish that exclusion for a battery-powered order. If the laboratory says only that an item was not commissioned, keep it as a coverage gap rather than accepting it as irrelevant.
Agree what will close each evidence gap
Record the affected requirement, current status, laboratory explanation, missing evidence, responsible person and approval condition. Separate an adequately supported exclusion from an applicable item awaiting testing and a result awaiting clarification. Evidence in another report may help, but check that it addresses the same requirement and ordered configuration.
Ask your technical reviewer to decide what evidence is sufficient. Do not commission repeat testing blindly if the sample or method caused the problem. Agree the sample configuration and assessment scope with the laboratory first. Retain the original report, explanations, replacement evidence and signed review together, using the compliance file guide.
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Keep unresolved items visible at approval
As a purchasing control, hold approval where relevant safety or compliance evidence remains unresolved. Record any separate decision to continue development or prepare packaging so it cannot be mistaken for approval to ship or sell. A supplier's reassurance or commercial concession does not supply the missing technical evidence.
When qualifying another factory, carry these unresolved items into its evidence gate rather than copying the previous supplier's exclusions. The second supplier qualification guide covers that wider process. Cambridge China Bridge can gather configuration details from the factory and coordinate laboratory questions through its staff in China; the buyer retains its technical and compliance sign-off.
Frequently asked questions
Does not tested mean the product failed?
It supplies no test result for that item in this report. It is neither a pass nor proof of failure. Ask why testing was omitted and whether the requirement needs evidence elsewhere.
Can I accept not applicable on a test report?
Accept it only after reviewing a clause-specific explanation against the ordered product and intended use. A supplier's statement that testing was unnecessary is not enough to close the question.
Does an inconclusive result need a retest?
Ask the laboratory what prevented a conclusion. Clarification may resolve it; another sample or further testing may be needed. Agree how the cause will be addressed before commissioning more work.
Can a report say pass while leaving tests unresolved?
Yes, its conclusion may cover only the assessed scope. Read exclusions and footnotes, then compare coverage with your requirements. Keep relevant gaps open until supporting evidence has been reviewed.