Should You Get a PFAS Blood Test? What Doctors Say

PFAS blood testing is now available. But should you actually do it? The honest answer.

Availability

PFAS blood testing is available through your doctor, commercial labs, and some community health programs. The test is a standard blood draw that measures PFAS concentrations in your serum. Most major clinical laboratories including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp now offer PFAS panels.

Through your doctor: Ask your primary care physician to order a PFAS serum panel. Most insurance plans do not cover PFAS blood testing unless medically indicated (such as during a community health investigation), so expect to pay $200-400 out of pocket. Your doctor can order from Quest Diagnostics ("PFAS Profile" panel, tests for 7 compounds) or LabCorp ("PFAS Panel," tests for up to 14 compounds).

Community health studies: If you live near a known PFAS contamination site (military base, industrial facility, or contaminated water system), your state or county health department may offer free blood testing as part of an exposure assessment. The CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has conducted free PFAS blood testing in dozens of communities with documented contamination. Check ATSDR's website or call your local health department to ask about available programs.

Direct-to-consumer options: Some laboratories offer PFAS blood testing without a doctor's order. These typically cost $250-500 and involve visiting a local blood draw site. Results come in 2-4 weeks. While convenient, having a physician involved helps with result interpretation and any follow-up testing that may be recommended.

What It Shows

A PFAS blood test (also called a PFAS serum test) measures the concentration of specific PFAS compounds in your blood, reported in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Most clinical panels test for 7-14 PFAS compounds, with PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA being the most commonly measured.

The test tells you your cumulative PFAS body burden -- not from a single source, but from all exposure routes combined: water, food, consumer products, dust, and occupational contact. It is a snapshot of what has accumulated in your blood over years of exposure.

Interpreting the results requires context. The National Academies of Sciences recommends clinical follow-up when total PFAS exceeds 2 ng/mL for the sum of seven key PFAS compounds. For reference, the median American has approximately 4.7 ng/mL of PFOS alone in their blood, meaning most people would exceed this threshold. The test does not diagnose disease but can help your doctor assess whether additional screening (thyroid function, cholesterol, certain cancers) is warranted.

Should You

Most doctors and public health experts say: probably not, for most people. Here is the honest reasoning behind that advice, and the exceptions.

The main argument against routine PFAS blood testing is that it rarely changes what you should do. If your result comes back elevated (which it will for most Americans), the recommended actions are the same: filter your water, reduce food packaging exposure, and avoid PFAS-containing products. You do not need a blood test to start doing those things today. There is also no medical treatment to remove PFAS from your body faster, so a high result can cause anxiety without offering a clear treatment path.

That said, a PFAS blood test does make sense in certain situations:

• Known high exposure: You live near a military base, airport, or industrial site with confirmed PFAS contamination
• Occupational exposure: You are a firefighter, chemical plant worker, or semiconductor industry worker
• Unexplained health issues: Thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, or immune problems that your doctor wants to investigate
• Community health study: Your state or local health department is offering free testing as part of a contamination investigation
• Personal baseline: You want a documented number before and after making exposure-reduction changes

What to Do After

If you have gotten a PFAS blood test, here is how to act on the results.

If your total PFAS is below 2 ng/mL: You are in the lower range of the general population. Continue basic exposure reduction (water filtration, avoiding PFAS packaging) as preventive measures. No specific medical follow-up is needed based on PFAS levels alone.

If your total PFAS is 2-20 ng/mL: This is the range where the National Academies recommends increased clinical attention. Talk to your doctor about thyroid function testing, cholesterol monitoring, and age-appropriate cancer screening. Aggressively reduce exposure sources, starting with checking your water and installing an NSF P473-certified filter if PFAS is detected.

If your total PFAS exceeds 20 ng/mL: This indicates significant exposure, likely from living near a contamination source or occupational contact. The National Academies recommends priority testing for thyroid disease, kidney and testicular cancer screening, and monitoring for liver effects. Identify and eliminate the primary exposure source urgently. Contact your state health department about community exposure investigations.

Regardless of your level, the most effective action is reducing ongoing exposure. PFAS blood levels decline naturally once intake drops, though it takes years. Filter your water, reduce food packaging contact, and consider retesting in 2-3 years to track whether your levels are declining. Our complete PFAS guide covers exposure reduction strategies in detail.