Since you cannot see, taste, or smell PFAS, the only way to know if your water contains PFAS is to have it tested by an expert laboratory. Once you understand which PFAS compounds are in your water, you will need expert advice about an effective treatment plan to remove those specific contaminants. Based on what we find in your water, we will also give you recommendations for the appropriate filtering medium and treatment process for consistent and safe drinking water.
In May of 2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued health advisory levels (HALs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) of 70 ng/L for either PFOA or PFOS individually or combined. Your state may be in the process of setting maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for drinking water. Check your state's website for updates.
We perform PFAS analysis in drinking water by two EPA methods 537.1 and 533. We are accredited in accordance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for testing drinking water using US EPA methods 537.1 and 533. We can help inform you about the PFAS that may be in your drinking water.
We offer drinking water tests using EPA Method 537.1 to quantify 18 different PFAS including the GenX chemical hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). You can find the list of PFAS in EPA method 537.1 here. EPA 537.1 is performed using Solid Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
We are thrilled to receive a certificate from Delaware for methods 537.1 and 533. We are also accredited in accordance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for testing drinking water using US EPA methods 537.1 and 533.
We offer drinking water tests using EPA Method 533 which includes “short chain” PFAS (none greater than C12), perfluorinated acids, sulfonates, fluorotelomers, and poly/perfluorinated ether carboxylic acids. Many of these were not included in method 537.1.
EPA Method 533 includes a total of 25 PFAS compounds, which includes 14 of the 18 listed in EPA 537.1 along with 11 additional short chain PFAS. The list of additional compounds in EPA 533 includes those that cannot be analyzed by EPA 537.1 because of physicochemical properties. EPA 533 is performed by Isotope Dilution Anion Exchange Solid Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Isotope dilution is incorporated into the method, which can minimize sample matrix interference and improve data quality. We are accredited in accordance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for testing drinking water using US EPA methods 537.1 and 533.
States that have promulgated their own PFAS regulations require that drinking water tests using USEPA Methods 537.1 and 533 are done by laboratories which have NELAC and or their state certification.
We are accredited in accordance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for testing drinking water using US EPA methods 537.1 and 533.
NELAP accreditation requires us to pass periodic proficiency tests and audits for maintaining high quality standards. Whether you have questions about sample collection, PFAS analysis, and interpretation of the data and prices, contact us. We are here to help you comply with PFAS drinking water regulations.
Certifications:
We hold certification for PFAS drinking water testing in Delaware.
Approved for UCMR-5:
Our lab is approved by the US EPA to perform all PFAS UCMR 5 analyses. Our experience with the program and our expert staff makes our lab an excellent resource for UCMR 5 questions and testing services. Whether you have questions about program requirements, are looking for a quote or to begin the planning process, or are interested in sample collection, analysis, and reporting services - we are here to help!
There is a growing need for detecting more PFAS analytes in drinking water than those required by the EPA methods as awareness and emphasis on PFAS is evolving. In addition to offering analysis of PFAS using EPA methods 537.1 and 533, we have multiple proprietary methods that allow us to cover customer-requested analytes as needed. We can detect a wide variety of non-regulated and uncommon PFAS chemicals at single-digit part-per-trillion (ng/L) detection limits in drinking water.
We offer a number of choices, from just the two PFAS in the EPA health advisory (PFOA and PFOS) up to approximately 50 PFAS compounds and the list is growing as more PFAS get identified. We encourage those interested to be specific about the PFAS analytes they want determined in drinking water samples and we will adapt our methods accordingly.
We also offer PFAS analysis in non-potable water using draft EPA method 1633, for analysis of 40 PFAS compounds. Non-potable water is water that has not been treated to make it suitable for drinking. The many different types of non-potable water include groundwater, surface water (fresh and brackish), and even wastewater. The potential exists for high levels of organic and inorganic constituents that can impact the performance of all phases of the analytical method. We have validated our methodology in all of these water types and are prepared to accept samples. The list of PFAS compounds included in draft EPA Method 1633 can be found herehere. In addition, we have the flexibility to add other analytes to this method at customer request.
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