How to pick a water testing lab
Pick the lab that is certified for the test you need in the state that matters — then confirm bottles, hold times, and how you will get the sample there. Everything else is secondary.
Price quotes without certification and method details are incomplete. Call before you fill a bottle.
Checklist
- State certification for the analyte. PFAS, lead, and bacteria are often separate scopes. Ask for the exact parameter.
- Chain of custody. If a closing or agency is involved, ask who signs and who collects.
- Turnaround. Get a range in writing; rush fees are common.
- Mail-in vs drop-off. Overnight shipping and ice packs fail if timing is wrong. Local drop-off can be simpler for bacteria.
- Instructions. First-draw lead, flushed samples, and well taps have different scripts — use the lab’s.
Where to look
Use this directory, then verify on the lab’s page and the state list. Cross-check national pointers on the EPA certified laboratory contacts page. County health / Extension can tell you what they already test locally.