Years of exposure to nonstick cookware, fast-food packaging, fire-fighting gear and water-resistant household products have resulted in increased levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," in practically every American's bloodstream.
High levels of PFAS have been linked toulcerative colitis, diagnosed high cholesterol, thyroid disease, testicular cancer,kidney cancer, low birthweight babies and pregnancy-induced hypertension, although studies are inconclusive and still ongoing.
Now you can get tested for PFAS exposure without your healthcare provider asking for it.
Quest Diagnostics announced Monday the first "consumer-initiated, physician-ordered blood-draw test forPFAS chemicals." The test, which you order online, will be available from most of Quest's approximately 2,100 diagnostic centers in the country and will include (if desired) a separate telephone consultation with a licensed physician to go over the results and ways to reduce the exposure risk.
"Scientists and the general public are increasingly aware that PFAS may be dangerous to human health, but access to quality, convenient testing to assess exposure is limited," said Quest director Jack Kain. "Our PFAS blood test is based on the latest science and aligns with several facets of new CDC guidance as well as recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Not everyone needs a PFAS test, but people at high risk of elevated exposure may benefit from greater access to the insights provided by this novel test."
Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that healthcare providers begin requesting PFAS tests for their patients to help researchers track growth and effects.
What are PFAS, or forever chemicals?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) refers to a family of more than 12,000 types of synthetic chemical compounds. They were invented in 1938 when a chemist accidentally created a slippery substance that would later become the foundation of the miraculous and popular line of Teflon nonstick pots and pans.
PFAS have incredible water-resistant properties which makes them excellent for many home and industrial uses, but those same qualities also make PFAS virtually indestructible and long-lasting since they don't completely degrade in the environment, or in your body. That's why they're called "forever chemicals."
Quest's PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Test Panel checks for nine of the most common PFAS chemicals that have been associated with certain health risks.
Do PFAS chemicals cause cancer?
Studies have not yet been conclusive, but several have linked PFAS exposure to a wide range of health issues in animals including:
- Increases in cholesterol levels
- Kidney and testicular cancer
- Decreases in birth weights
- Lowered vaccine protection in children
Do I have PFAS in my blood?
Almost certainly.
InEPA data released in November, hundreds of water systems around the country providing drinking water to about 46 million people were found to have PFAS contaminants, more thanone in four public drinking water systems. PFAS, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), can be found in air, soil, water, blood, urine, breast milk and umbilical cord blood, according to theFlorida Department of Health.
The levels of PFOA and PFOS have dropped in recent years, according to theEPA, thanks to some U.S. manufacturers voluntarily phasing them out in the 2000s, but some products still use them and experts say the newer PFAS developed to replace them also may have similarly harmful qualities.
Will getting tested for PFAS help me?
Quest was quick to point out in the press release that testing can't identify the sources of your exposure or predict "future health outcomes." The test is intended for people in high-risk situations to get a sense of how badly they've been exposed so they can look into ways to reduce the exposure. People who could most benefit from testing are:
- Anyone exposed on the job, such as firefighters or industrial workers
- Anyone using a water supply near a commercial or industrial location such as airports, military bases, manufacturing plants, or sewage plants
- Anyone living near a facility that manufactures fluorochemicals
- Anyone living in an area where PFAS environmental contamination has been found
You must be 18 or older to request the test.
How do I get a PFAS (forever chemicals) test?
Put in the request for a PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Test Panel atquesthealth.com. A physician from PWNHealth (an independent, third-party physician network) will review the request and place an order. Then you get your blood drawn at one of the participating Quest Diagnostics patient service centers.
You'll receive your results seven to 10 days later through an online patient portal and if you like you'll be able to request a separate telephone consult to review the results. If your PFAS exposure is elevated, you'll be contacted by an independent physician’s group to discuss your results and your next steps.
If you live in an area serviced by Quest's in-home sample collection, you may be able to schedule a Quest Mobile phlebotomist to come to your home and collect your blood sample instead.
The PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) Test Panel is not available in Arkansas, Arizona, Hawaii or New York.
How much does the PFAS chemical test cost? Does insurance cover it?
Each PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Test Panel runs $299, plus a $7.00 doctor fee. But insurance companies have not yet said if they would cover the test.
"The PFAS Test Panel currently available to consumers through questhealth.com is self-pay," said Quest Diagnostics spokesperson Jillian Flanagan in an email.
