Drinking water, food and beverage testing for metals, PFAS and mycotoxins
EPA Methods 537.1 and 533 are complementary: together they measure 29 unique PFAS in drinking water, and neither is valid for wastewater or soil, which need Method 1633. We run both drinking-water methods in lab-supplied polypropylene bottles with Trizma preservative, metals by EPA 200.8 ICP-MS to the 10 µg/L lead trigger level, and Closer to Zero panels for food.
- From
- $145
- Turnaround
- 5–7 business days
- Certificate
- Public, hashed, video-linked
What the panel measures
| Test | Method | Instrument | Reports as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metals | MethodEPA 200.8 ICP-MS, 2% nitric preservation | InstrumentAgilent 7850 ICP-MS | Reports asµg/L vs MCL and LCRR trigger |
| PFAS, drinking water | MethodEPA 537.1 (18) and 533 (25), SPE and LC-MS/MS negative ESI, isotope dilution | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS | Reports asng/L; 29 unique PFAS; add-on $295 |
| PFAS, other matrices | MethodEPA 1633 | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS | Reports asng/L or ng/g; quote |
| Food metals | MethodFDA EAM 4.7 ICP-MS; Closer to Zero action levels | InstrumentAgilent 7850 ICP-MS | Reports asµg/kg vs FDA action levels |
| Mycotoxins | MethodLC-MS/MS | InstrumentAgilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS | Reports asµg/kg; add-on $99 |
Accepted: Drinking and well water Beverages and juices Baby food Finished foods Bottled water
Compounds: Lead, copper, arsenic, cadmium, mercury PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFHxS and 24 more Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol Nitrate, fluoride
Why the method matters
Both PFAS drinking-water methods
533’s anion-exchange extraction recovers short-chain PFAS that 537.1’s C18 misses; 537.1 covers analytes 533 does not. Running both is what EPA directed for UCMR 5, and it is what we do.
Lab-supplied bottles, no glass
PFAS adsorb to glass and leach from some plastics. We ship polypropylene bottles with the preservative already in them, and no PTFE touches the sample path.
Authentic Agilent bench, OEM consumables
Every instrument was bought new through Agilent, Charles River and MilliporeSigma authorized channels, installed and performance-qualified by certified engineers, and serviced by Quantum Analytics. Columns, lamps, seals, cartridges, canisters and reference standards are OEM or Thermo Fisher lot-traced; no third-party refills, no re-used cartridges, no expired lysate. The instrument ID, column lot and standard lot are printed on every certificate.
The bench this runs on
Agilent 7850 ICP-MS
Elemental impurities and toxic metals to sub-ppb, internal-standardized.
Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS
Identity by accurate mass and MRM transitions; sub-ppt quantitation with isotope dilution.
Purchased new through authorized channels, installed and performance-qualified by certified engineers, run on OEM consumables. Instrument IDs are printed on every certificate. See the full bench.
Water and food testing compared
| Gold Standard Analytics | Typical | |
|---|---|---|
| PFAS methods | Gold Standard Analytics537.1 and 533 | TypicalOne or the other |
| Bottles supplied | Gold Standard AnalyticsYes, preserved PP | TypicalBring your own |
| Metals technique | Gold Standard AnalyticsICP-MS 200.8 | TypicalICP-OES 200.7 |
| Public certificate | Gold Standard AnalyticsYes | TypicalNo |
Named, sourced comparisons with individual laboratories are on the compare page.
Questions about water and food testing
Can I see the video of my sample being opened?
Yes. Every package is opened on camera, each container is photographed, and the footage is linked to your accession. Custody video and photos are kept for three years; the retained sample itself is kept 90 days for guarantee retests.
What happens if my result fails?
It is published like any other result, with the method, instrument and specification shown. You may order a retest of the retained sample; we never re-run to obtain a better number.
Can I use this for compliance reporting?
Compliance samples for public water systems must go to a state-certified laboratory; we are not certified. Our results serve homeowners, brands and pre-compliance screening.
How do I sample for PFAS?
Request bottles in the order notes. Do not use glass, do not wear water-resistant clothing while sampling, and ship on ice within 48 hours.
What is Closer to Zero?
FDA’s program setting action levels for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in foods for babies and young children. We report against the current action levels.
Method references: EPA analytical methods for PFAS in drinking water, 533 and 537.1 · EPA 537.1 requirements and PP bottles · EPA 200.8 and the LCRR 10 µg/L trigger
Other services
Peptides testing · SARMs testing · Kratom testing · Hemp testing · Supplements testing · Cosmetics testing · Raw materials testing · Hydrocarbons testing · Pesticides testing · Compare labs · Laboratory notes
Submit a sample
An invoice is issued at submission and the prepaid label is emailed when payment lands. Certificates publish in 5–7 business days.