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Use a lancet to prick your finger tip. This is just like taking a blood sugar test. Our test needs 120 uL (micro-liters) of blood. This is typically 6-8 drops for most people.
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We use volumetrically accurate microsampling devices from Neoteryx. These blood sampling devices collect just a few drops of blood while still ensuring accurate testing
The sample is extremely stable once it has been collected. This means it can be mailed back to our lab without the need for any refrigeration or special storage.
The dry sample is dissolved in a mix of chemicals so it returns to a liquid state. This reconstituted sample is then further processed using a carefully selected set of solvents to ensure all the PFAS molecules are dissolved and ready for the next stage of the process.
The prepared sample is injected into the liquid chromatography column. Each PFAS compound interacts with the LC column differently, and exits at a different time. For example, a compound that interacts weakly with will exit the column earlier than one that interacts strongly.
The mass spectrometer converts the compounds from neutral molecules to ions (charged particles). These enter the detector, which detector is engineered to very accurately measure the mass of each ionized chemical that enters it.
The final analysis takes the output of the LCMS and determines exactly which PFAS are present and in what quantity. Each compound is characterized by 1) the specific time it exits the analytical LC column, and 2) the mass of the compound as determined by the MS.
There are several ways to measure the accuracy of the test. Firstly, does it accurately identify the correct compounds? Secondly, what is the smallest amount of a compound that it can detect (limit of detection or LOD)? And thirdly, what is the smallest amount of compound that it can then quantify (limit of quantitation)?
For the majority of compounds, our LOD and LOQ are well under 1 ng/mL. This means that we are able to prove that any result above this level is a real result and not a "false positive". We are constantly refining and improving our lab process to bring this level down.
We use the latest LCMS equipment from Thermo Fisher, a leading US company in the field of chemical analytics. For the geeks among you, we use high precision liquid chromatography coupled to high precision, accurate-mass MS units. The MS uses two different detection technologies, quadrupole and orbitrap, to accurately detect and quantify the compounds of interest.
We use the College of American Pathologists (CAP) standards for validating both our laboratory and test procedures. We have developed and validated our test over many iterations using different machines and operators. This gives us extremely high confidence in the robustness and accuracy of our testing. We are currently running research studies to further improve our understanding of the test. If you would like to volunteer, visit the Studies page.
Our R&D scientists and laboratory technicians have spent dozens of years developing analytical methods and tests for toxin and chemical detection. Development of the PFAS Core Panel combined this experience with published guidelines and protocols from the EPA and CDC for PFAS testing.
The accuracy of your test does not depend on whether you’ve fasted. You can take your sample at any time that is convenient for you.
Taking the Relentless Health test is very simple and typically painless. In order to get a few drops of blood, you do need to use the provided lancet to prick the tip of your finger. For some, this is completely painless, and for others, it might feel like a sting that goes away after a few seconds
The Relentless Health PFAS Core Panel includes analysis of your blood for 18 different PFAS chemicals. Eight of the PFAS compounds are the same ones tracked by The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES):
The test also includes 10 other PFAS compounds that are commonly used in various consumer products and industrial processes, as well as found in some drinking water and the environment.
Relentless Health's toxin tests are available to be purchased and used by anyone in the United States, except for residents of the state of New York. This is due to New York's state regulations for lab testing. We hope to make our tests available in NY soon.
