So you picked the lab route. Good choice, smart cookie. Open the kit and you’ll see a sterile vial, gloves, and instructions that look like a physics exam. Breathe. It’s easier than assembling IKEA furniture.
First, don’t touch the inside of the vial. That’s like licking a Petri dish—bad form. Fill the vial from your kitchen tap after letting the water run for a few minutes. Why? Because stagnant water doesn’t represent what you actually drink.
Label the vial with your name, the date, and your address. Then, seal it in the provided bag. Ship it out within 24 hours, because PFAS can degrade or cling to plastic over time. Treat it like a VIP guest—deliver it fresh.
Lab Test Kits for PFAS in Drinking Water – Tap Score
What the Lab Tells You (And How to Not Panic)
Your results will come back with numbers like “10 ppt” or “0.5 ppb.” PPT = parts per trillion, and PPB = parts per billion. The U.S. EPA has a health advisory level of 70 ppt for combined PFOA and PFOS, but some states have stricter limits. Don’t freak out if your result is 15 ppt—it’s below the federal limit, but above some states’ goals.
Look for the total PFAS number. That’s the sum of all the chemicals detected. If it’s over the EPA advisory, you may want to consider a water filter designed to remove PFAS (think activated carbon or reverse osmosis). If it’s under, you can do a little happy dance. Science for the win!
