Know your tap. One lab. Five plans.

Certified mail-in kits range from about $50 for a basic 50+ parameter screening (SimpleLab Essential) to around $350 for the most complete 250+ parameter panel with VOCs (SimpleLab Ultimate). Dedicated PFAS and Lead & Copper kits sit in between. All prices include lab analysis and prepaid return shipping. Single purchase, no subscription.

A laboratory kit measures the concentration of specific contaminants in your tap, not just presence. Common panels detect lead, copper, coliform bacteria and E. coli, nitrate, arsenic, mercury, chlorine, fluoride, hardness, and pH. Extended panels add PFAS (forever chemicals) and VOCs (industrial solvents). DIY strip tests only give a rough color-coded pass/fail for a handful of parameters.

About 5 business days from the moment the lab receives your sample. USPS transit typically adds 2-3 days, so plan on 7-10 days total from sample collection to digital report. Results arrive as a PDF with per-contaminant readings compared against EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels.

Yes. City compliance data (see /my-water/) reports what left the treatment plant, not what arrived at your faucet. Lead, copper, and bacteria are commonly introduced by aging service lines, indoor plumbing, corrosion, or stagnant water in unused pipes. Only a first-draw sample from your kitchen tap reflects what you actually drink.

Strip tests give a rough color-coded pass/fail for a handful of parameters. A laboratory test measures exact concentrations, uses EPA-approved analytical methods (ICP-MS, GC-MS, ion chromatography), and can detect contaminants at parts per billion. For any decision that matters - buying a filter, medical concerns, real estate transaction - the lab test is the defensible answer.

The EPA recommends annual testing for private wells. City water users typically test every 2-3 years or after a utility violation notice, unless they have vulnerable household members (infants, pregnant, immunocompromised). Always retest after: new fixtures, home purchase, boil-water advisory, or any change in taste or odor.

Yes, but only with a dedicated PFAS panel. Most standard kits do not include PFAS analysis. The SimpleLab PFAS Test measures the 6 EPA-regulated compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, HFPO-DA / GenX) with concentrations compared against the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels.

If you are on a private well, yes - annually at minimum. Private wells are not regulated by the EPA, and the homeowner is responsible for water safety. Test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, and lead every year. Add pesticides and VOCs if you are near agricultural land or a former industrial site.

Every kit ships with a first-draw sampling protocol: do not run water for 6-8 hours (usually overnight), then fill sample bottles directly from your kitchen cold tap without letting the water run first. First-draw captures what actually sits in your plumbing overnight, which is what you drink in the morning.

Essential (50+ parameters) covers basic health-relevant screening. Advanced (116 analytes) adds bacteria and extended chemistry - good for city water users who want a full picture. Ultimate (250+ parameters incl. VOCs) is the most complete panel - recommended for well water, older homes, and anyone near industrial or agricultural areas. Add the PFAS kit separately if you are in an EPA-flagged area.