Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Analysis

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic fluorinated compounds that are highly resistant to chemical and environmental degradation. Their widespread use and persistence have resulted in the detection of PFAS in environmental and biological samples, creating a growing need for sensitive and reliable analytical methods.

This targeted LC-MS/MS analysis measures 46 PFAS compounds spanning multiple chemical classes, including perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSs), sulfonamides and related compounds, ether PFAS, and fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs). The method incorporates 19 isotopically labeled internal standards to support quantitative analysis.

Because PFAS are present at trace concentrations and can originate from laboratory materials and LC system components, the method uses PFAS-specific contamination controls, including modified LC plumbing and a dual delay-column configuration, to separate system-derived PFAS background from target analytes.

Recommended sample amounts:

  • Water, wastewater, surface water, and groundwater: 500 mL
  • Landfill leachate: 100 mL
  • Soil and sediment: 5 g wet weight
  • Biosolids: 0.5 g dry weight
  • Biological tissue: 2 g wet tissue
  • Other sample sources: Contact us for more information

Important: PFAS-free sampling materials should be used whenever possible. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) collection containers are recommended. Avoid PTFE/Teflon-containing collection materials because they may introduce PFAS contamination.

Download list of metabolites.

Below is a list of the PFAS compounds covered in this panel. Don't see your PFAS analyte or sample type of interest? Contact us to discuss your project and analytical needs.

PFAS

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  • Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs)
    • Perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA)
    • 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)
    • Perfluorohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA)
    • Perfluorooctadecanoic acid (PFODA)
  • Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonic Acids (PFSAs)
    • Perfluoromethanesulfonic acid (PFMS)
    • Perfluoroethanesulfonic acid (PFEtS)
    • Perfluoropropanesulfonic acid (PFPrS)
    • Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
    • Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
    • Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
    • Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
    • Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
    • Perfluorononanesulfonic acid (PFNS)
    • Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS)
    • Perfluoroundecanesulfonic acid (PFUdS)
    • Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid (PFDoS)
    • Perfluorotridecanesulfonic acid (PFTrDS)
  • Fluorotelomer Sulfonates (FTSs)
    • 4:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (4:2 FTS)
    • 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS)
    • 8:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS)
  • Perfluorooctane Sulfonamides and Related Compounds
    • Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)
    • N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide (N-MeFOSA)
    • N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamide (N-EtFOSA)
    • N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (N-MeFOSAA)
    • N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)
  • Ether and Alternative PFAS
    • Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; GenX)
    • 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA/DONA)
    • Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
    • Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
    • Perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (PFDHA)
    • 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
    • 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
    • Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
  • Fluorotelomer Carboxylic Acids (FTCAs)
    • 3:3 Fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (3:3 FTCA)
    • 5:3 Fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:3 FTCA)
    • 7:3 Fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (7:3 FTCA)