PFAS Method Selector

APPLICATION

PREFERRED METHOD

REPORTING LIMITS AND ATTRIBUTES

PFAS TARGETS

Comprehensive PFAS, monitoring in Water, Solids and Tissue

EPA 1633A

0.4-5 ng/L aqueous and sub-ng/g solids. The most comprehensive reference method draft for quantitative PFAS reporting in all terrestrial environmental compartments including ambient and waste monitoring, featuring all best practices including isotope dilution, weak anion exchange, carbon cleanup and more

40

US Drinking Water
 Testing

EPA 537.1 and EPA 533LC-MS/MS

1-5 ng/L. For drinking water testing only, targeted for UCMR5, compliance MCL monitoring, state drinking water monitoring and other drinking water applications. EPA 537.1 does not feature isotope dilution or weak anion exchange cleanup

29 (18 in 537.1 and
 25 in 533)

Target PFAS Screening
 (Water and Soil)

ASTM D8421, ASTM D8535, EPA 8327 LC-MS/MS

10-20 ng/L. Ideal for rapid (1-5 day) TAT screening of samples for initial site characterization, remediation testing and more prior to confirmatory analysis. Use method to understand problem scope, and success/failure of remediation measures, use data to refine scope of more comprehensive measurement. ASTM methods feature isotope dilution.

Up to 44

Fluorine Screening

EPA 1621 and more by combustion ion chromatography (CIC)

1-2 ug/L for organic fluorine measurement. In-house methods available for extractable organic fluorine and total fluorine.

1 (Total)

PFAS Precursor
 Screening (TOP)

Inhouse LC-MS/MS

5-10 ng/L water and solids (low ng/g). Ideal to measure presence of unknown PFAS as precursors. Provides chain length information and LC-MS/MS.

Up to 40

Extended PFAS
 Monitoring

Inhouse methods LC-MS/MS and GC-MS or GC-MS/MS

Up to 90 PFAS including fluorotelomer alcohols, ultrashort PFAS such as Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and more can be reported.

Up to 90

Non-/semivolatile PFAS monitoring in stack emissions

OTM-45 by LC-MS/MS

Nonvolatile and semivolatile PFAS in stack emissions captured on filter, gas sorbent and water for compliance/other monitoring of PFAS from factory, incinerator and other PFAS remediation/destructive flue gas stack. Uses isotope dilution and weak anion exchange

49

Volatile PFAS monitoring in stack emissions and other air applications

OTM-50 by GC-MS

Volatile PFAS in stack and indoor/outdoor emissions captured in a canister for compliance/other monitoring of volatile PFAS from factory, PFAS user, incinerator and other PFAS remediation/destructive flue gas stack. Can also be used for non-stack applications.

30 + qualitatively identified PFAS