Luxembourg-based laboratory tests company Eurofins, through its subsidiary empowerDX, has rolled out PFAS Exposure, an at-home blood test to determine PFAS, in the US.
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances), such as PFOA and PFOS are called ‘forever chemicals’, as they do not naturally breakdown in the environment or human bodies.
The new PFAS Exposure is a direct to consumer at-home test to determine levels of PFAS and detect 47 forever chemicals using blood sample, said the company.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to the PFAS chemicals may cause adverse health effects.
The effects include cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, elevated cholesterol, respiratory disease, and decreased fertility.
CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) report found that PFAS is present in the blood of 97% of US citizens.
Eurofins said that the PFAS Exposure test has been developed by its Environment Testing companies and their research partners, and being rolled out in the US, through empowerDX.
Traditionally, PFAS testing in blood would use serum as an estimation for whole blood, and require a blood draw conducted by a healthcare practitioner.
The company said that its PFAS Exposure is a self-administered sampling kit that uses a simple finger prick.
Its collection kit is an all-in-one solution that enables participants to self-collect samples at home or work and send them directly to the laboratory.
Eurofins is commercialising the PFAS Exposure kits in the US through its at-home health testing business, empowerDX.
In May last year, empowerDX has received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its at-home Covid-19 testing kit for use in children aged three years and above.
Last month, Eurofins Technologies has rolled out a new multiplex RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 screening and detection of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).
