Merit Laboratories is the First PFAS-Certified Laboratory in Michigan

Merit Laboratories is the first environmental laboratory in Michigan to achieve certification for the analysis of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Merit is ISO/IEC 17025-certified for the analysis of PFAS by two analytical mehods. EPA 537 for drinking water testing and ASTM D7979 with Isotopic Dilution for testing wastewater, groundwater, and surface water.

Merit performs EPA 537 in drinking water for the list of 14 PFAS substances that are EPA-approved by the method. EPA 537 is a prescriptive Drinking Water Method for 14 PFCs.  It can only be used for the 14 compounds in drinking water samples and is limited in the allowable modifications, according to the method.  The MDEQ list of 24 PFCs requires a different method.

ASTM D7979 with Isotopic Dilution is a method performed by Merit for non-drinking water matrices. Merit Laboratories can analyze for the MDEQ PFAS-requested list of 24 PFAS substances using ASTM D7979. During our method development, Merit was able consistently demonstrate much better recoveries for all 24 PFAS compounds.  The better recoveries are partly attributed to much less sample handling.  Sample handling can both contaminate and remove compounds of interest in your samples.

The list of PFAS compounds that are listed in Merit’s PFAS certification include:

Drinking Water: EPA 537

• PFTeA: Perfluorotetradecanoic acid
• PFTriA: Perfluorotridecanoic acid
• PFDoA: Perfluorododecanoic acid
• PFUnA: Perfluoroundecanoic acid
• PFDA: Perfluorodecanoic acid 
• PFNA: Perfluorononanoic acid 
• PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid
• PFHpA: Perfluoroheptanoic acid
• PFHxA: Perfluorohexanoic acid
• PFOS: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
• PFHxS: Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
• PFBS: Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
• N-EtFOSAA: 2-(N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid
• N-MeFOSAA: 2-(NMethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid

Wastewater | Groundwater | Surface Water by ASTM D7979 with Isotopic Dilution

• PFTeA: Perfluorotetradecanoic acid
• PFTriA: Perfluorotridecanoic acid
• PFDoA: Perfluorododecanoic acid
• PFUnA: Perfluoroundecanoic acid
• PFDA: Perfluorodecanoic acid 
• PFNA: Perfluorononanoic acid 
• PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid
• PFHpA: Perfluoroheptanoic acid
• PFHxA: Perfluorohexanoic acid
• PFPeA: Perfluoropentanoic acid
• PFBA: Perfluorobutanoic acid 
• PFDS: Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid
• PFNS: Perfluorononanesulfonic acid 
• PFOS: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
• PFHpS: Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid
• PFHxS: Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
• PFPeS: Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid
• PFBS: Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
• PFOSA: Perfluorooctanesulfonamide
• FtS 8:2: Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 8:2
• FtS 6:2: Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 6:2
• FtS 4:2: Fluorotelomer sulphonic acid 4:2
• N-EtFOSAA: 2-(N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid
• N-MeFOSAA: 2-(NMethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid

Merit is Michigan’s PFAS environmental laboratory, analyzing wastewater, groundwater, drinking water, and other sample matrices at our laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan. Merit Laboratories offers two analytical options for PFAS: ASTM D7979 and EPA 537.  Please contact Merit Laboratories for assistance on your PFAS testing needs. We are pleased to offer guidance with sample collection container needs, compound lists, holding times, and method selection.