PFAS Testing Services

Per–and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, known by many acronyms (PFCs, PFOA, PFOS, and now collectively being referred to as PFAS) are present in many common commercial and household items, including nonstick kitchenware, fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting foam, and more. 

DoD facilities, chemical plants, and fire stations are where most PFAS investigations have been focused, but with the CDC indicating that measurable levels of PFAS are likely found in the bloodstream of every American, and concerning health effects still being studied, many PFAS experts say we’ve only scratched the surface of this issue.

ARA's scientists and partners are committed to staying on top of the latest scientific information, methods, limits and changes, so that you can focus on your projects knowing you have the best PFAS resource in your corner. If you have any questions about PFAS testing, how to test for PFAS, or where PFAS is found, give us a call or send an email today.  

Since you cannot see, taste, or smell PFAS, or many of the things that may contaminate your drinking water / affect your water quality, the only way to know if your well water is safe to drink is to have it tested by a certified laboratory. 

Not everyone needs to test for PFAS. You should follow your state’s water testing guidelines, and only if you are near a contaminated site, or have a specific concern, you should test for those additional items as well. As always, ARA encourages everyone with a private well to test their water every few years as a rule of thumb, regardless of what’s going on in the news. (Watch this short video to see how easy it is to get your water tested).  If you have concerns about PFAS or would like to know how to test your water for PFAS, contact ARA with questions. 

Absolute Resource Associates of Portsmouth offers water analysis packages for PFAS testing (PFC/PFOA/PFOS) and many other harmful water contaminants such as lead, arsenic, nitrate/nitrite, bacteria and more.

If you want to know how to test for PFAS in water or would like a PFAS Test Kit, contact ARA with questions. We have partnered with a specialty laboratory to provide a PFAS water analysis package for the following 19 compounds, with more to be added shortly: 

• Perfluorobutanoic acid PFBA
• Perfluoropentanoic acid PFPeA
• Perfluorohexanoic acid PFHxA
• Perfluoroheptanoic acid PFHpA
• Perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA
• Perfluorononanoic acid PFNA
• Perfluorodecanoic acid PFDA
• Perfluoroundecanoic acid PFUnA
• Perfluorododecanoic acid PFDoA
• Perfluorotridecanoic acid PFTrDA
• Perfluorotetradecanoic acid PFTeDA
• Perfluorobutanesulfonate PFBS
• Perfluorohexanesulfonate PFHxS
• Perfluoroheptanesulfonate PFHpS
• Perfluorooctanesulfonate PFOS
• Perfluorodecanesulfonate PFDS
• Perfluorooctanesulfonamide PFOSA
• 6:2 Fluorotelomersulfonate 6:2 FTS
• 8:2 Fluorotelomersulfonate 8:2 FTS

Please note: Sample integrity is of the utmost importance when collecting your PFAS samples. Please help avoid trace or cross contamination of PFAS by adhering to the following guidelines:

• All sources of Teflon™ should be avoided during sample collection and storage.
• Avoid use of personal products before sampling (cosmetics, moisturizers, deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. may contaminate your samples).
• Avoid synthetic, waterproof, or stain resistant clothing/materials while sampling.
• Thoroughly wash and dry hands before collecting samples.
• Anyone within 2 meters of collection area should follow the above guidelines, or move out of the sampling area until completion.
• Use gloves provided in sampling kit only.
• Use bottles provided in sampling kit only. Samples must be collected in polypropylene or polyethylene (HDPE) bottles fitted w/ unlined (no Teflon™) polypropylene screw cap.
• Fill bottle to neck and cap it.
• Immediately place bottle(s) in ziplock bag or cooler with ice. (Do not use 'blue' / chemical-based ice packs, but real ice cubes). 
• Chill, but do not freeze samples.
• Do not use chemical (“blue”) ice packs to chill samples.
• Ensure minimum exposure to light after collection.
• Fill out chain of custody (COC) form, and drop it off with samples at the lab within 24 hrs.
• Our lab is located at 124 Heritage Ave, #16, Portsmouth, NH. Phone: 877.320.7373

Many states are struggling with their own water quality issues, and NH is no different. From PFAS, arsenic and THMs in the water, to Pease, Saint Gobain and an unexplained “cancer cluster” on the NH seacoast, lately it seems that the news releases coming from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) office in Concord cannot keep up with the public’s thirst for information and reassurance that their drinking water is safe. Here are just a handful of hundreds of NH news stories related to water quality:

• Groundwater Contamination Stays in Headlines
• Tainted Water at Pease has NH Families on Edge
• State to Spend Millions on Drinking Water Projects in NH
• Beyond Saint Gobain; 44 Companies Questioned about PFOA
• EPA to Test Water at Coakley Landfill
• PFCs Found in Water at Pease Air Force Base
• Unexplained “Cancer Cluster” on NH Seacoast
• Study Links Arsenic to Bladder Cancer in New England

For more information on this topic, visit:

• NHDES PFAS FAQs page (PFAS sampling protocol, reporting, monitoring & more): https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/documents/pfas-faq.pdf

• USEPA Basic Information about PFASs: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-about-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass

• Testing for Pease: http://www.testingforpease.com/ is a Community Action Group providing info for residents concerned about contaminated drinking water and environmental contamination.

PFASs are a class of man-made chemicals which have been widely used to make products more stain-resistant, waterproof and/or nonstick, such as:

• non-stick cookware
• stain-resistant furniture, carpets, clothing
• waterproof shoes, clothing, mattresses
• non-stick food packaging
• firefighting foam