Total Fluorine & Total Organic Fluorine Testing Laboratories
Total fluorine and total organic fluorine measurements report how much fluorine a sample contains rather than which compounds are present, which makes them a fast, inexpensive screen ahead of targeted PFAS analysis.
What does it measure?
- Total fluorine content of a material or article
- Total organic fluorine, after inorganic fluoride is accounted for
- Adsorbable or extractable organic fluorine in aqueous samples, depending on the approach used
When is it used?
- Screening large numbers of materials before committing to targeted analysis
- Demonstrating that fluorinated chemistry was not intentionally added
- Checking whether a fluorine-free substitution actually removed the fluorine
- Flagging samples where targeted PFAS results do not explain the fluorine present
Sample considerations
- A screen result is a total, not a compound identification — plan for targeted follow-up on anything that flags.
- Inorganic fluoride, fluoropolymers and fluorinated pharmaceuticals or pesticides all contribute fluorine and can produce a result unrelated to PFAS of concern.
- State the threshold you must demonstrate against so the laboratory can confirm the technique can reach it.
Laboratories with relevant capabilities
No directory profile currently documents this specific capability. Submit a request and we will look for laboratories that cover it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is total fluorine the same as PFAS testing?
- No. It indicates that fluorinated substances are present but identifies none of them. Targeted analysis is what names and quantifies individual PFAS.
- Why is my total fluorine higher than the sum of targeted PFAS?
- This is common, because targeted methods cover a defined list while the fluorine measurement captures everything fluorinated, including compounds no routine method reports.
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