The PFAS Core Panel test is delivered by our parent company, Relentless Health. Their mission is to help first responders and others live healthier lives in the face of toxin exposure. Relentless Health donates a proportion of every sale made to organizations that help first responders deal with the health impacts of their job.
PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of man-made “forever chemicals”. They have long been used in manufacturing for their useful chemical properties, such as being non-stick and being able to repel water.
PFAS compounds have been widely used in firefighting applications such as AFFF and turnout gear. They were once viewed as wonder chemicals thanks to their chemical stability and desirable properties. This led to them being used in almost every conceivable industrial process and in many consumer products. As a result, they are released in almost any structural fire. Moreover, they are widely found in the environment, groundwater, and even precipitation. This means wildland fires may also be a source of exposure.
Evidence is increasingly linking PFAS exposure to significant adverse health outcomes. These include several forms of cancer as well as reproductive health issues and organ damage among others. As a result, it is important to understand which PFAS substances are present in your body and in what quantities.
Almost everyone faces some risk of PFAS exposure. However, firefighters, have up to 53% more PFAS in their body than others. This places them at the top of the pile when it comes to potential medical risks from PFAS exposure.
The usual approach for this is for a nurse or phlebotomist to draw a vial of blood from you which is then subjected to detailed toxicological analysis. However, there are other options available, including ones that only require a few drops of blood. In most cases, these tests can only identify a small number of PFAS compounds and these may not be the ones you were exposed to.
Our lab developed test can identify the presence of PFAS within your body. We collect a few drops of blood from one of your finger tips using a special sampling device. This is then sent to our central laboratory where we use advanced liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify up to 24 PFAS compounds. The test results are available a few days after the sample is sent to the lab.
The Firefighter Toxin Tests PFAS Core Panel tells you whether you have detectable levels of specific PFAS chemicals in your blood, as well as the concentration of each detected PFAS chemical in “ng/mL” (nanograms per milliliter). Each test includes a guide with recommendations on how to reduce PFAS exposure at home and in the workplace.
The test is intended to provide clinical information regarding the presence or absence of the specified PFAS compounds. Results should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings. The results of this test are not intended to be the sole basis for diagnosis or clinical decision making.
The Firefigther Toxin Tests 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 AFFF and turnout gear, as well as found in some drinking water and the environment.
Our 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.
