There is no known causative evidence between PFAS and these diseases.

However, emerging, peer-reviewed research studies are creating stronger connections between PFAS exposure and major health problems in both adults and children.

Cancer + PFAS

PFAS exposure has been linked to kidney cancer, liver cancer, and testicular cancer.

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10627102/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32944748/
• https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/certain-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-forever-chemicals-identified-as-potential-risk-factor-for-thyroid-cancer

Liver damage + PFAS

Studies have shown that exposure to PFAS chemicals can be linked to liver damage.

• https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/EHP11149
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36111068/

Thyroid disease + PFAS

New evidence suggests certain thyroid diseases and thyroid hormone disruption are associated with PFAS exposure.

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5401824/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866686/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5945046/

Fertility + PFOS + PFOA

Fertility issues and various reproductive problems may be linked to PFOS and PFOA exposure.

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8038605/
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-82748-6

Developmental delays + PFAS

A child’s exposure to PFAS may increase the risk of developmental delays.

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23713113/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6348874/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10424367/

Immunotoxicity + PFAS

The National Toxicology Program, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has concluded that PFOS and PFOA are likely hazardous to the human immune system. Strong evidence suggests that these PFAS compounds hinder the body’s ability to use antibodies to protect itself.

• https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/pfoa
• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196%2823%2900106-7/fulltext

High cholesterol + PFOA + PFOS

In recent years, peer-reviewed studies have indicated that higher cholesterol levels are associated with PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA exposure in humans.

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-023-00545-x
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019305094
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X21001682

There are 16 PFAS compounds or analytes included in the lab report. The NHANES program, created by the CDC, analyzes these markers in their studies:

• L-Perfluorooctanoic acid
• Br-Perfluorooctanoic acid
• Total PFOA
• L-Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
• Br-Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
• Total PFOS
• N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
• Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
• Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
• Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
• Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
• 9CI-PF3ONS
• 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
• Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid (HFPO-DA)
• Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
• Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)

The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plays a central role in PFAS blood testing in the United States. Here's the connection:

Recommending Blood Testing: The CDC recommends PFAS blood testing for both individuals and communities. For individuals, it can help gauge exposure and guide efforts to reduce it. For communities, widespread testing helps assess the extent of PFAS contamination in a particular area.

Providing Resources: The CDC offers resources for both healthcare providers and the general public. They have a PFAS Blood Level Estimation Tool that allows individuals to estimate their PFAS levels based on drinking water exposure.

Public Health Initiatives: The CDC works with state and local health departments to investigate PFAS contamination and implement public health initiatives.

NHANES, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, is a program run by the CDC.

It has been measuring PFAS levels in blood samples from the U.S. population since 1999. This ongoing study provides valuable data on how widespread PFAS exposure is in the US and how it changes over time.

The data collected by NHANES, including PFAS blood test results, is publicly available. This allows researchers to study the health effects of PFAS exposure and identify populations at higher risk.

Your order will be delivered with FedEx Ground within 5 business days. At home tests are shipped Monday – Friday. Make sure to order in advance to avoid possible shipping delays.

Collect your sample with a simple finger prick from the comfort of your home. Your kit will come with everything you need to collect and ship back your sample.

It can take up to thirty minutes to collect your sample. It’s important to plan accordingly.

No! The PFAS Exposure Blood Test does not require fasting.

You should plan to ship your sample back the same day you collect it. Take your completed kit to a local FedEx drop box before end-of-day pickup to have it overnighted to the lab (Monday – Friday only). FedEx drop boxes do NOT pick up on Saturday or Sunday. empowerDX is not responsible for FedEx shipping delays.

Your at-home PFAS test results will be available within 90 days of the lab receiving your completed kit. You’ll get an email the moment your results are ready in our secure online portal. View, download and print them anytime. Feel free to share them with your healthcare provider.

To request a bulk PFAS order, please click this link and fill out the contact form. Our best empowerDX sales rep will be in touch with you within 48 hours. Thanks for your interest!

empowerDX lab results are intended for informational and educational purposes only, with the exception of infectious disease testing which is diagnostic. Information from empowerDX is not meant to serve as treatment advice or treatment recommendation for any health condition. We strongly recommend you review lab results with your physician.

The cost of shipping is included in the price. There's no additional charge for shipping your test to your home or office. Every test kit comes with a prepaid return shipping label that should be used to ship the kit back to our laboratories for analysis and reporting. All tests are shipped to you with FedEx Ground unless otherwise specified.

For more shipping information, please visit our Terms of Service page.

[1] https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/index.html

Yes, the American Pregnancy Association (APA) has formally endorsed the empowerDX PFAS Exposure Blood Test (16 Legacy Compounds) for testing at home.