PFAS Testing in Drinking Water

In May of 2016, the US EPA issued health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) of 70 ng/L for either PFOA or PFOS individually or combined. In order to limit adverse effects on human health, the EPA is working with other federal agencies, states and local communities to limit the exposure of harmful levels of PFAS. This includes creating a certification program with laboratories that standardize the methods used to detect low levels of PFAS in drinking water, assessing PFAS occurrence nationwide and establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). EPA encourages those interested to be specific with prospective laboratories about the type of PFAS analysis they want performed for drinking water samples. Eurofins has dedicated facilities and instrumentation that minimizes the possibility of cross contamination from other samples and matrices that may contain high levels of contamination to ensure your confidence in low level PFAS and other potable water analyses.

Targeted Analytes

Eurofins performs targeted PFAS analysis by EPA Method 537 v1.1, EPA method 537.1, or by our proprietary method. Each of these methods uses Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). Eurofins maintains four dedicated instruments specifically for these methods. The EPA methods have identical sampling, preservation, and holding time requirements (Table 1). Method 537.1 is almost identical to method 537 v1.1 with four more parameters added and some additional quality control /quality assurance (QA/QC) requirements. Our proprietary method measures 21 additional compounds for a total of 39 PFAS analytes. The parameters analyzed by these methods, including CAS numbers and Minimum Reportable Limits (MRL) achieved by Eurofins are given in Table 1.

Non-Targeted Analytes

In addition to the targeted PFAS, Eurofins can also perform non-targeted PFAS analysis by accurate mass high resolution LCMS. Non-targeted analysis differs from targeted analysis because you  do not know beforehand the exact compounds you are looking for. This technique measures exact mass of molecules and can help identify chemicals previously unknown. Non-targeted analyses are not routine, and can be run on extracts from the Eurofins proprietary method. In addition, direct aqueous injection is possible for the more polar PFAS compounds with 10 carbons (C-10) or less. Please consult your Eurofins sales representative before requesting a non-targeted PFAS analysis.

PFAS Compound List and Analytical Method - Table 1

() MRL for UCMR3

Sampling, Sample Preservation, and Holding Times

For more information on sampling and sample preservation, refer to Eurofins Eaton Analytical PFAS Sampling Instructions.

Centers of Excellence

Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environmental

Eurofins Eaton Analytical

Eurofins TestAmerica