PFA Testing Now Available
The Environmental Protection Agency has set limits on the amount of PFAS that is allowed in drinking water, which take effect in the coming years. More specifically, the EPA limits for drinking water are set at 4 ppt for PFOS and PFOA, and 10 ppt for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA, with action starting in 2026. Many states have already started to crack down on PFAS by implementing their own limits now.
For this reason, AnalysisNow! is happy to announce the qualification of our own LC-MS/MS for the 18 PFAS compounds from the EPA Method 537.1. We are now able to test water samples (deionized or otherwise) as per Method 537.1 with a reporting limit of 0.4 ppt, well below the EPA limits on these chemicals. Additionally, we have developed methods to test process solvents such as isopropanol, PGME, PGMEA, etc., with a reporting limit of 0.5 ppb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PFAS are included in EPA Method 537.1?
Method 537.1 includes the five PFAS that EPA limits cover, plus an additional 13 other PFAS that may soon be regulated.
PFBS, PFHxA, HFPO-DA, PFHpA, DONA, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFDA, N-MeFOSAA, N-EtFOSAA, PFOS, PFUnDA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFDoDA, PFTrDA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFTDA
Do I need to use specific kinds of plastic for our sample bottles?
For the best results, use polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles, since other plastics have been shown to contain PFAS which will affect your results. Glass can also be used, provided that it has been thoroughly cleaned, rinsed, and dried.
How much sample should I send?
For EPA Method 537.1 with ppt-level limits, each replicate requires 250mL of sample in its own bottle. Ideally, we would prefer 4 bottles per sample. If that is not possible, let us know when you send the sample so that we can prepare for it, though this may affect our reporting limits. Please reference EPA Method 537.1 for the approved sampling procedure.
Other samples of process solutions with ppb-level limits do not require nearly the same amount, so 100mL of sample will be adequate for our analysis.