How PFAS are detected in water and soil — the analytical methods, why testing is hard, and where detection technology is heading.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the most scrutinized contaminants in environmental work today — and one of the hardest to measure. This article covers the common methods for PFAS detection, the challenges laboratories face, innovations in detection techniques, and why regular monitoring matters for any site where PFAS are a concern.
The detection and quantification of PFAS in environmental samples — water, soil, or biological tissue — has traditionally relied on High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Mass Spectrometry (MS). HPLC separates the different PFAS compounds in a sample; MS then identifies and quantifies each compound.
The strength of this approach is breadth: it detects a wide range of PFAS compounds, including the most studied ones like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), along with many others. HPLC-MS remains the workhorse of PFAS monitoring — though it is not without challenges.
Sensitivity. Many PFAS compounds are present at extremely low concentrations in the environment — often in the parts-per-trillion (ppt) range. Detecting and accurately quantifying these levels requires highly sensitive analytical methods and instrumentation.
Selectivity. With thousands of distinct PFAS compounds, each with different chemical properties, isolating specific PFAS in the presence of others is difficult. Other substances in a sample can also interfere with detection and skew results.
Cost. The equipment needed for PFAS analysis is expensive, the analysis is time-consuming, and it requires highly trained personnel. That makes widespread, routine testing challenging — especially where resources are limited.
Despite the hurdles, detection technology is advancing. Researchers are developing field-deployable biosensors that use biological elements — enzymes or antibodies — to recognize and bind specific PFAS compounds, producing a measurable signal quickly and at lower cost than lab analysis.
Advanced mass spectrometry techniques, such as high-resolution MS and tandem MS, are also expanding the number of PFAS compounds that can be detected and pushing detection limits lower than traditional methods allow.
Given how persistent PFAS are and their potential health impacts, regular monitoring is essential. Monitoring reveals where PFAS are present, how they move through the environment, and where they accumulate — information that drives risk assessments, guides remediation, and tracks whether source controls are working.
The stakes have risen with regulation: in 2024 the U.S. EPA finalized the first national drinking-water limits for PFOA and PFOS, set at just 4 parts per trillion. Standards that strict make sensitive, reliable detection — and a plan for what to do when PFAS are found — more important than ever.
Detection is step one; treatment is where Hepure comes in. Our team supports PFAS management strategies built around activated carbon adsorption and site-specific containment approaches. Learn more on our PFAS Solutions page or review current PFAS remediation techniques.
Two ways to get started: call 866-727-4776 to discuss your project, or send us your site assessment documents for review.