FAQ: PFAS Testing Services and Laboratories Directory
Thousands of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been created and used globally in various industries since the 1940s. Because PFAS do not break down easily, they have been detected worldwide in water, soil, air, and even our bodies.
Since PFAS are emerging contaminants, only a handful of laboratories in Pennsylvania are accredited by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to test them in water. There are no DEP laboratory certifications for testing PFAS in soil, biosolids, or tissue samples. Currently, PFAS testing can cost approximately $250 to $500 per sample, depending on the type of sample and method used. Table 1 shows PA DEP-accredited laboratories that test for PFAS in water as of August 2025. As shown, some of the laboratories also have the capacity to test PFAS in soil, biosolids, and tissue samples. Laboratories may provide sampling kits containing bottles and instructions for collecting, handling, and shipping samples, specific to the sample type you want to test and the analytical method they follow.
| Laboratory | PA DEP Certified Water Testing | Biosolids and Soil | Tissue Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALS Environmental – Middletown 301 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown, PA 17057 717-944-5541 |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Criterion Laboratories Inc 400 Street Road, Suite 100, Bensalem, PA 19020 215-244-1300 |
Yes | No | No |
| Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environment Testing, LLC 2425 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601-5994 717-656-2300 |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RJ Lee Group, Inc. 350 Hochberg Road, Monroeville, PA 15146 724-325-1776 |
Yes | Yes | No |
| Suburban Testing Laboratories, Inc. 1037F MacArthur Road, Reading, PA 19605 610-375-8378 |
Yes | Yes | No |
The US EPA has validated two different testing methods for PFAS in water, wastewater, soils, biosolids, and tissue samples. The two primary methods for drinking water are US EPA Method 537.1 and Method 533. Method 537.1 measures 18 PFAS compounds, and Method 533 measures 25 PFAS compounds, but both methods measure many of the same PFAS compounds and those included in state and federal drinking water regulations. Another method that some laboratories may use is Method 1633A, which measures 40 PFAS compounds in biosolids, soils, sediments, and fish and other tissue samples. Method 1633A can also test PFAS in wastewater, landfill leachate, surface water, and groundwater. All methods require samples to be transported on ice and have hold times ranging from 14 to 28 days. Exact sample collection and shipping requirements should be discussed with the laboratory that is providing the analysis.
When contacting a laboratory for testing, it may be helpful to ask the following questions:
- What kinds of samples can the laboratory test?
- What method will the laboratory be using for analysis?
- What is the cost of testing?
- What materials will the lab provide (bottles, cooler, etc.)?
- What sampling protocol should be followed?
- How does the laboratory accept samples (drop off, shipping, etc.)?
- How soon do samples need to arrive at the lab after being collected?
- When will test results be available?
