Do you need a PFAS blood test?

Who the guidelines say should get tested

In 2022, the National Academy of Sciences recommended that clinicians offer PFAS blood testing to people with a history of likely elevated exposure, including:

• Firefighters, especially those exposed to AFFF firefighting foam. Federal law already requires the Department of Defense to test its firefighters every year.
• Military service members and veterans who lived or worked on bases with contaminated groundwater.
• People in communities with documented contamination, or who lived near likely sources such as fluorochemical plants, airports, military bases, wastewater plants, landfills, and farms that used sewage sludge.
• Workers exposed on the job, including in chemical and coatings manufacturing and some textile and paper work.

Who else should consider testing

PFAS are in the blood of more than 98% of people in the US. Most people can’t trace their exposure to a single source, and you don’t have to work in a high-risk job to have elevated levels. You might also consider a test if you:

• Are planning a pregnancy with your partner. PFAS exposure matters for both prospective parents. Research has examined links with female fertility, sperm quality, and pregnancy outcomes. PFAS can also cross the placenta and pass into breast milk. Learn more about the evidence on The Science page. For couples planning a pregnancy, it makes sense to discuss exposure before trying to conceive.
• Have high cholesterol without a clear reason. Higher cholesterol is one of the most consistent findings linked to PFAS, and the guidelines call for cholesterol screening in anyone with elevated levels.
• Drink from a private well. Private wells aren’t covered by federal drinking water rules, so unless you’ve tested your water, it may not have been checked for PFAS.
• Frequently eat locally caught fish. Fish from contaminated waterways can be another source of exposure. If you regularly eat what you catch, consider whether your local waterways have known PFAS contamination.
• Want a baseline. PFAS levels often change slowly. Knowing your number now gives you something concrete to compare with future results.

PFAS are in nearly everyone’s blood. The only way to know your own level is to test.

What your result tells you

A PFAS blood test measures individual compounds in your blood. The National Academies’ 2022 guidance uses the sum of seven of them to place results into three bands that guide clinical follow-up:

A blood test won’t tell you exactly where your PFAS came from or whether you’ll develop a health problem. It will tell you what’s in your blood today, giving you and your physician a starting point for what comes next.

Already have results?

If you already have results from your doctor, a community study, or your workplace, you may not need to test again. Tare accepts recent outside results, so you can move straight to a physician consult. If your result was high, start with our guide to what to do next.