Health: Laboratory: Water Testing

Tests Available to the Public for a Fee

Fluoride in Water

Title	Fluoride Analysis
Test Explanation	Fluoride can occur naturally in well water at high levels from erosion of natural deposits, or not be present at all. Some people who drink water containing fluoride more than the EPA MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level (4.0 mg/L) over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL (2.0 mg/L) or more may cause mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums. The recommended level of fluoride is 0.7 mg/L to prevent tooth decay.
Test Designed For	Anyone Well Owners IDOH Oral Health Program State government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments Contact: Bharat Patel Email: Bpatel@health.in.gov
Cost	$10 per sample plus shipping for Well Water Testing No Charge for Investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions
Specimen Requirements	Questions: Contact Bharat Patel, Bpatel@health.in.gov
Sampling Materials	The kit contains: Instruction form Analysis request form One 125mL plastic bottle. Order kits using the link below: Access Indiana: Home
Procedural Notes	Do not rinse the sample container. Flush the sample tap for five (5) minutes prior to collecting the sample. Reduce the flow of the water and fill the sample container to the shoulder of the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap to prevent sample leaking. Complete the analysis request form.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return (within 72 hours) to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.
Additional Information	IDOHChemistryLab@health.in.gov

Metals (Arsenic, Lead, and Copper) in Drinking Water

Title	Arsenic, Lead and Copper in Water - available to the Public
Test Explanation	Lead, Copper, and Arsenic are all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulated parameters. Lead and Copper usually enter the water supply from plumbing or from erosion of natural rock deposits. In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, Lead may cause kidney problems as well as high blood pressure. Short term Copper exposure can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long term exposure can cause liver or kidney damage. Arsenic is more common in well waters than in public water supplies. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal found in the ground throughout Indiana. Arsenic may also come from agricultural, mining and industrial practices. Non-cancer effects of arsenic can include: stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and numbness in hands and feet. Arsenic can cause skin damage or problems with circulatory systems.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted from private citizens. This test is not for public water supply compliance monitoring. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, QBell@Health.in.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	Use plastic 125 mL bottles for sampling. Contact laboratory for sampling kits. Each kit includes sampling instructions as well as a sample container for Arsenic, Lead and Copper testing. The fee is $20.00 per kit, one sample per kit. Shipping fee of $6.50 is additional. See form for payment options.
Procedural Notes	Follow sampling instructions included in the sampling kit. Complete the analysis request form included in the sampling kit. Please fill in all requested information on the form.
Shipping Instructions	Within 14 days of collection, Mail or return to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Metals Laboratory 550 West 16th St, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2218 Sample can be dropped off in person at Central Receiving.
Reporting and TAT	The report with sample results will be emailed within 21 days after receiving the sample.

Nitrate & Nitrite in Water

Title	Nitrate + Nitrite as N
Test Explanation	All well owners are encouraged to test their water yearly for nitrates. High levels of nitrates may indicate a failing septic system or contamination from animal herds, fertilizers or landfills. The Nitrate + Nitrite test is a good indicator of overall water quality. Using Federal regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141.23 (a) (4) (i)) as a guideline, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Nitrate as Nitrogen is 10.0 mg/L (ppm) and for Nitrite as Nitrogen is 1.0 mg/L (ppm). The health significance of nitrate above these levels applies to pregnant women, and infants below the age of six months. The major health effect associated with these levels is methemoglobinemia, also known as “blue-baby syndrome”.
Specimen Requirements	Samples will be accepted from the public for a fee of $10.00 per sample plus $6.50 shipping and handling per order. Samples from State government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments will be accepted at no charge. Contact: Bharat Patel Phone: 317-921-5586 Email: Bpatel@isdh.in.gov
Sampling Materials	Nitrate kits can be requested from the Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories Containers Area 317-921-5874. The kit contains: * Instruction form* Analysis request form* One 125mL plastic bottle with a filter paper and a small amount of Sulfuric Acid. Online Order Form
Procedural Notes	Do not rinse the sample container or discard the acid preservation disk! The filter disk is saturated with 50% sulfuric acid (see precautions) and is used to preserve the sample for the analysis of total nitrate/nitrite. Flush the sample tap for five (5) minutes prior to collecting the sample. Reduce the flow of the water and fill the sample container to the shoulder of the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap to prevent sample leaking. Do not take the filter paper out. Complete the analysis request form.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return (within 72 hours) to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratory Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (Primarily for Research Institutions)

Title	Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water
Test Explanation	The Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water analysis is useful in environmental health investigations to help identify the source of contamination as human or animal in drinking water or surface water.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted only from state agencies, local health departments, or institutions doing environmental health research. This analysis is not available to the general public. One Liter of water, preferrably filtered through glass fiber in the field, should be collected and kept cold until delivery. Samples should be received within 36 hours of collection. Please contact Mark Starzynski at 317-921-5553 for further instructions.
Sampling Materials	Samples are collected in specially cleaned 1 Liter amber glass bottles with teflon-lined caps or specially cleaned 1 Liter plastic bottles. This method detects low levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Sampling personnel must be gloved and should refrain from using caffeine, nicotine, and personal care products, including anti-bacterial soaps, the day before and the day of sample collection. Soils may be collected in glass bottles and should be kept cold until delivery.
Procedural Notes	Waters need to be pre-filtered through glass fiber filters before laboratory preparation. Samples are preserved at the laboratory with EDTA.
Shipping Instructions	Samples are delivered in person to the laboratory or shipped overnight with cold packs. Indiana Department of Health Laboratory Suite B 550 W. 16th Street Indianapolis, IN 46202
Reporting and TAT	Reports are emailed or mailed within 30 days of receipt. Results for water samples are reported in ng/L (parts per trillion).

Radionuclides in Drinking Water

Title	Radionuclides in Drinking Water
Test Explanation	All Community and Municipal Public Water Systems must test for radionuclides as directed by IDEM. Testing is on a schedule based upon your water supply and for most systems this is every 3, 6 or 9 years, although some systems may be done annually or in rare cases, quarterly. Drinking Water can be tested for private water supplies and well water sources that are not reported to IDEM. The fee for a private submitter includes a screen for gross alpha and gross beta particles, Uranium and Radium-228. Radionuclides include Radium and Uranium. Radium causes cancer when consumed in high doses. Radium is a chronic contaminant. Long-term exposure to high levels of radium can cause an increased incidence of bone, liver, or breast cancer. Radium is a naturally occurring contaminant in drinking water due to its presence in most major rock types found in Indiana. Uranium also occurs naturally in Indiana. Excess uranium ingestion is associated with kidney disease.
Specimen Requirements	The entire container must be filled and received at the lab within 5 days of collection or the sample will be rejected. A Chain of Custody must be completed included with the submission. Please call 317-921-5500 and ask for the Radiochemistry Lab if you have technical questions.
Sampling Materials	Sample Collection Containers will be sent after an order is received. Drinking Water samples for compliance with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) mandated sampling schedule are collected in a provided 1 gallon cubitainers. A separate 1 gallon bottle is required for each Point of Entry (POE) of your water system. The laboratory will provide sampling kits at $100 per POE plus a $6.50 shipping charge for the entire order.
Procedural Notes	IDEM will contact Public Water Supplies about their sampling needs. For Public Water Supplies, only the mandated tests will be performed. Testing for systems serving under 100,000 people will include gross alpha and gross beta activity, Uranium and Radium-228 (and Radium-226 if needed). Test results go directly into IDEM's reporting system.
Shipping Instructions	Collect and ship samples to arrive at the laboratory within 5 days. Use a service such as UPS to guarantee arrival within the specified time. Be sure the corresponding Chain of Custody is included in each box shipped. Ship to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratory Attn: Radiochemistry Lab - Water Sample 550 W. 16th Street Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202

Tests Available to All Local Health Departments

PLEASE CALL ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER TESTS (317) 921-5500

Asbestos

Title	Asbestos Collection and Transport
Test Explanation	Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. The greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure. Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are: 1) lung cancer, 2) mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest and the abdomen and heart, and 3) asbestosis, a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for Asbestos analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana State Department of Health Indoor Air Division, State government agencies or from a County Health Department. Solid material such as building materials, insulation, pipe wrap, ceiling tile, floor tile, may be submitted. Contact: Bharat Patel Phone: 317-921-5586 Email: Bpatel@isdh.in.gov
Sampling Materials	Submit samples in re-sealable plastic bags.
Procedural Notes	Samples should be in sealed, double plastic bags and submitted through the appropriate government agency. Label the plastic bag with the name of the location where the sample was taken, the name of person or health department that took the sample and what the sample is (i.e. pipe wrap). If more than one sample is collected be sure to number each bag. Include a completed sample submission form when submitting samples.
Shipping Instructions	Place bag(s) containing sample(s) in an appropriate shipping container and ship to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Arsenic in Water

Title	Arsenic in Water
Test Explanation	Arsenic is more common in well waters than in public water supplies. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal found in the ground throughout Indiana. Arsenic may also come from agricultural, mining and industrial practices. Non-cancer effects of arsenic can include: stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and numbness in hands and feet. Arsenic can cause skin damage or problems with circulatory systems. Arsenic is a regulated parameter for the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for Arsenic is 0.010 mg/L or 10 parts per billion.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana State Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from Local or County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, QBell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	Use plastic bottles for sampling, the minimum volume required is 125 mL. Compliance or enforcement samples must be collected in 1 liter bottles. Contact laboratory for sampling containers.
Procedural Notes	Complete the analysis request form. For contact information, include at least an email address.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratory 550 West 16th St, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2218
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Diesel Fuel / Motor Oil (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons-E)

Title	Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons - Extractable
Test Explanation	The TPH-E test includes compounds found in kerosene, diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid, and motor oil. Many of these organic compounds are suspected human carcinogens.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for TPH-E analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana State Department of Health and other government agencies. Contact: Mark Starzynski 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Water must be collected in one liter glass bottles with teflon lined caps, both of which were previously rinsed with solvents. Solids are collected in solvent rinsed pint glass jars with clean aluminum foil between the jar and the cap.
Procedural Notes	Water - fill 2 of the provided one liter glass bottles to the top. Solid - fill 1 of the provided pint glass jars with the solid.
Shipping Instructions	Samples must be kept refrigerated at 4°C from the time of collection to the time of analysis. Samples should be delivered to the laboratory within 1 day of collection. Ship samples by an overnight service with ice packs and adequate padding to prevent breakage, or hand-deliver to the lab. Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results will be e-mailed to the submitter normally within 30 days.

Fluoride in Drinking Water

Title	Fluoride Analysis
Test Explanation	Fluoride can occur naturally in well water at high levels from erosion of natural deposits, or not be present at all. Some people who drink water containing fluoride more than the EPA MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level (4.0 mg/L) over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL (2.0 mg/L) or more may cause mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums. The recommended level of fluoride is 0.7 mg/L to prevent tooth decay.
Test Designed For	Anyone Well Owners IDOH Oral Health Program State government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments Contact: Bharat Patel Email: Bpatel@health.in.gov
Cost	$10 per sample plus shipping for Well Water Testing No Charge for Investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions
Specimen Requirements	Questions: Contact Bharat Patel, Bpatel@health.in.gov
Sampling Materials	The kit contains: Instruction form Analysis request form One 125mL plastic bottle. Order kits using the link below: Access Indiana: Home
Procedural Notes	Do not rinse the sample container. Flush the sample tap for five (5) minutes prior to collecting the sample. Reduce the flow of the water and fill the sample container to the shoulder of the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap to prevent sample leaking. Complete the analysis request form.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return (within 72 hours) to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.
Additional Information	IDOHChemistryLab@health.in.gov

Gasoline (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons-V)

Title	Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons - Volatile
Test Explanation	This test includes compounds commonly found in gasoline. Many of these volatile organic compounds are suspected human carcinogens.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for TPH-V analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana State Department of Health and other government agencies. Contact: Mark Starzynski 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Sample Containers -- 40ml screw cap vials each equipped with a PTFE-faced silicon septum.
Procedural Notes	For Water Samples: Collect all samples in duplicate. Fill sample bottles to overflowing. No air bubbles should pass through the sample as the bottle is filled, or be trapped in the sample when the bottle is sealed. Adjust the pH of the samples to < 2 by carefully adding 4 drops of 1:1 HCl for each 40ml of sample volume. Seal the sample bottles, PTFE-face down, and shake vigorously for 1 min. When sampling from a water tap, open the tap and allow the system to flush until the water temperature has stabilized (usually about 5 min). Adjust the flow so that it is smaller than the bottle opening, and collect the samples from the flowing stream. When sampling from an open body of water, fill a 1-quart wide-mouth bottle or 1-liter beaker with sample from a representative area, and carefully fill duplicate sample bottles from the 1-quart container
Shipping Instructions	The samples must be chilled to 4°C on the day of collection and maintained at that temperature until analysis. Field samples that will not be received at the laboratory on the day of collection must be packaged for shipment with sufficient ice to ensure that they will be at 4°C on arrival at the laboratory. Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results will be e-mailed to the submitter normally within 15 days.

Inorganic Chemicals in Water (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Demands, Chloride, Sulfate, etc for Water Quality)

Title	Inorganic Chemistry Analysis
Test Explanation	Inorganic parameters such as cyanide, chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, ammonia, phosphate, chloride, sulfate, biochemical oxygen demand, solids and nutrients can be used to assess water quality.
Specimen Requirements	Samples will only be accepted from state government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments. Contact: Bharat Patel Phone: 317-921-5586 Email: Bpatel@isdh.in.gov Please call for information on the best test parameter(s) to address your issue.
Sampling Materials	Plastic and/or glass containers.
Procedural Notes	Please contact the lab for specific instructions, these will be based on the analyses requested.
Shipping Instructions	Please contact the lab on how quickly you need to mail the samples, this will depend on the analyses requested. Mail or return to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Lead and Copper in Drinking Water

Title	Lead and Copper in Drinking Water
Test Explanation	Lead and Copper usually enter the water supply from plumbing or from erosion of natural rock deposits. In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, Lead may cause kidney problems as well as high blood pressure. Short term Copper exposure can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long term exposure can cause liver or kidney damage. Lead and Copper are EPA regulated parameters with an action limit of 15 ppb for Lead and 1300 ppb for Copper in drinking water.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana State Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, QBell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	Sampling bottles must be 1 L plastic bottles to meet the requirements for the Lead and Copper Rule. Samples for Schools and Child Care facilities should be 250 mL plastic bottles. Bottles from the laboratory do not contain preservative. Contact Quincy Bell, QBell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559, for sampling containers.
Procedural Notes	There are two draw types for water sampling: First Draw: Water that has stood motionless for at least 6 hours. Do not flush the water before taking sample. Do not sample after weekends, holidays, or extended periods of stagnation. First draw samples may be taken in the morning or at the end of the day, but the water in the residence must not be used during the prior 6 hour period. Second Draw: Does not require stagnation. Flush the water 4-5 minutes before collecting the sample, then fill up the container. First Draw and Second Draw samples give an idea of the amount of lead attributed to the plumbing. If only collecting one sample, collect a First Draw. Complete the analysis request form. For contact information, include at least an email address.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratory 550 West 16th St, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2218
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Lead in Dust Wipes

Title	Lead in Dust Wipes
Test Explanation	In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, kidney problems as well as high blood pressure may occur. Lead in dust wipes is an EPA regulated parameter. The following are test result action limits set by the EPA: Less than 10 µg/ft2 for floors, carpeted and uncarpeted areas. Less than 100 µg/ft2 for interior windowsills.
Test Designed For	Qualified Lead Assessors from Local Health Departments, Lead & Healthy Homes or IDEM – No charge currently.
Cost	No charge for investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions.
Specimen Requirements	See ASTM Practice E1728 or pertinent HUD publications for specific sampling requirements. Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, Qbell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	Please purchase Vials and Ghost Wipes. Email Qbell@health.IN.gov for questions. Product: Environmental Express 70mL Cups with Attached Lids, 400pk Item #: SC601 Product: Environmental Express GhostWipe® SC4250 Moist Wipe, 15 x 15 cm, Individually Sealed; 1000/Pk from Environmental Express Item# SC4250
Procedural Notes	Please follow these five general guidelines: 1) One property equals one group. A group of dust wipe samples should include one Field Blank. (A field blank is a dust wipe opened at the sampling location then placed into its own Vial). ALWAYS submit a field blank with each sample group. 2) ALWAYS record the sampled area for each dust wipe sample in inches. 3) Dust wipes should be free from large amounts of paint chips (as from a deteriorated window trough). 4) One sample is one dust wipe: DO NOT composite samples – DO NOT put multiple wipes in one container. 5) Identify each sample at each location. Simple numbering is best. Record any deviations from this sampling procedure. Include a completed Dust Wipe Sample Submission Form.
Shipping Instructions	Place sample container(s) in an appropriate shipping box or padded envelope. Bring / Ship to: IDOH Laboratory ATTN: Environmental Lead 550 W 16th St – Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202 Refrigeration is not required. Samples should be received within 14 days of collection.
Reporting and TAT	Routine samples will be reported within 10 business days from receipt.
Additional Information	Contact Quincy Bell at QBell@health.IN.gov

Lead in Paint Chips

Title	Lead in Paint Chips
Test Explanation	In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, kidney problems as well as high blood pressure. Lead in paint chips is an EPA regulated parameter. The following is the test result action limit set by the EPA: <0.5% (with paint chip sample of all layers) or less than 5000 ppm.
Test Designed For	Qualified Lead Assessors from Local Health Departments, Lead & Healthy Homes or IDEM – No charge currently.
Cost	No Charge for Investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions.
Specimen Requirements	See ASTM Practice E1729 and/or pertinent HUD publications for specific sampling requirements. Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, Qbell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	Submit paint in a resealable plastic bag such as a Ziploc plastic bag or hard-walled containers. If using plastic bags, please double-bag.
Procedural Notes	1) Try to include all paint layers. 2) Try not to include the underlying substrate (like the wallboard). 3) Try to sample a sufficiently large portion to permit several analyses; the minimum sample size is 2 grams (approximately a teaspoon full). 4) Identify each sample at each location. Simple numbering is best. Include a completed Paint Chip Sample Submission Form. Record any deviations from this sampling procedure.
Shipping Instructions	Place sample container(s) in an appropriate shipping box or padded envelope. Bring / Ship to: IDOH Laboratory Attn: Environmental Lead 550 W 16th St - Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202 Refrigeration is not required. Samples should be received within 14 days of collection.
Reporting and TAT	Routine samples will be reported within 10 business days from receipt.
Additional Information	Contact Quincy Bell at QBell@health.IN.gov

Lead in Soil

Title	Lead in Soil
Test Explanation	In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, kidney problems as well as high blood pressure are possible. Lead in soil is an EPA regulated parameter. The action limit set by the EPA is 400 ppm for high-contact play areas.
Test Designed For	Qualified Lead Assessors from Local Health Departments, Lead & Healthy Homes or IDEM
Cost	No Charge for Investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, Qbell@health.IN.gov.
Sampling Materials	Digger and a re-sealable plastic sample container such as a Ziploc plastic bag. Please double-bag each sample.
Procedural Notes	1) Samples are usually taken within three feet (3') of the house (near the drip line) or within three feet (3') of the road. Other areas requiring sampling include exposed soil areas where children or their pets play. No paint chips or large pieces of debris should be included in the soil sample. 2) A sample may be a composite sample of between two and four subsamples collected in the same area. 3) Push the digger into the soil to a depth of approximately two inches. 4) Place the sample into a clean plastic bag. The total sample size should be about 100-200 grams (approximately 7-14 tablespoons). 4) Label the plastic bag with a sample identification number, date, address, name, and location. 5) Wipe down or wash off equipment before collecting each sample. This is necessary to avoid cross contamination. 6) Complete an IDOH Lead in Soil Sample Submission Form for each soil sample collected. Record any deviations from this sampling procedure.
Shipping Instructions	Place sample container(s) in an appropriate shipping box or padded envelope. Bring / Ship to: IDOH Laboratory Attn: Environmental Lead 550 W 16th St - Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202 Refrigeration is not required. Samples should be received within 14 days of collection.
Reporting and TAT	Routine samples will be reported within 10 business days from receipt.
Additional Information	Contact Quincy Bell at QBell@health.IN.gov

Metals in Water or Soil

Title	Metals in Water, Soil, or Waste
Test Explanation	Severe effects of metals toxicity include reduced growth and development, cancer, organ damage, nervous system damage, and in extreme cases, death.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana State Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County and Local Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, QBell@health.IN.gov or 317-921-5559
Sampling Materials	For water samples use plastic bottles, the minimum volume is 125 mL. For soil samples use plastic bags or glass containers. For waste samples use glass containers. Contact laboratory for sampling containers.
Procedural Notes	Complete the analysis request form. Note which metals are needed, e.g., Lead, Arsenic, Barium, Boron, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Mercury, RCRA Metals, etc. Include, at a minimum, an email address for contact information.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return (within 72 hours) to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratory 550 West 16th Street Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2218
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Methamphetamine Wipes (For Environmental Screening)

Title	Methamphetamine - Environmental Screening Wipes
Test Explanation	Methamphetamine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is mainly used as an illicit recreational drug. This test is an investigational tool for Local Health Departments to determine if a house or other property is contaminated with methamphetamine. The lab does not certify that a property is clean after remediation.
Specimen Requirements	Environmental Wipe Samples to screen for Methamphetamine contamination will only be accepted from Local Health Departments and other government agencies. Contact:Amanda Scott, 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Materials needed: 3” x 3” 12-ply cotton gauze Methanol - Gas Chromatography grade Cardstock or a Teflon® sheet - Disposable 40 ml VOC vial with septum closure Latex or Nitrile gloves Sampling Materials are provided upon request.
Procedural Notes	Sampling procedure: A rigid template (10 cm x 10 cm square cutout) is made from card stock or Teflon® sheet to ensure that a constant area is wiped. A single-use cardstock or Teflon® sheet is required to eliminate cross contamination when taking multiple samples. A new pair of Latex or Nitrile gloves must be used for each sample to avoid cross-contamination.* The 3” x 3” 12-ply cotton gauze is wetted with Methanol (about 3-5 ml) on-site. Before wiping, squeeze out and discard any excess Methanol from the gauze. The testing area (100 cm²) is wiped using either a concentric or side-to-side motion. The 3” x 3” 12-ply cotton gauze is then inserted into the provided sample container (40 ml vial).* The sample container is securely capped and kept refrigerated (<6°C). Refrigeration or ice is recommended as soon as possible. An unused sample of the Methanol-wetted cotton gauze should be placed in a separate sample container as a Procedural Blank and submitted with every set of samples, along with a completed chain of custody form.
Shipping Instructions	Ship or hand deliver to: Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results normally are e-mailed to the submitter within 30 days.

Nitrate+Nitrite in Water

Title	Nitrate + Nitrite as N
Test Explanation	All well owners are encouraged to test their water yearly for nitrates. High levels of nitrates may indicate a failing septic system or contamination from animal herds, fertilizers or landfills. The Nitrate + Nitrite test is a good indicator of overall water quality. Using Federal regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141.23 (a) (4) (i)) as a guideline, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Nitrate as Nitrogen is 10.0 mg/L (ppm) and for Nitrite as Nitrogen is 1.0 mg/L (ppm). The health significance of nitrate above these levels applies to pregnant women, and infants below the age of six months. The major health effect associated with these levels is methemoglobinemia, also known as “blue-baby syndrome”.
Specimen Requirements	Samples will be accepted from the public for a fee of $10.00 per sample plus $6.50 shipping and handling per order. Samples from State government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments will be accepted at no charge. Contact: Bharat Patel Phone: 317-921-5586 Email: Bpatel@isdh.in.gov
Sampling Materials	Nitrate kits can be requested from the Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories Containers Area 317-921-5874. The kit contains: * Instruction form* Analysis request form* One 125mL plastic bottle with a filter paper and a small amount of Sulfuric Acid. Order Form
Procedural Notes	Do not rinse the sample container or discard the acid preservation disk! The filter disk is saturated with 50% sulfuric acid (see precautions) and is used to preserve the sample for the analysis of total nitrate/nitrite. Flush the sample tap for five (5) minutes prior to collecting the sample. Reduce the flow of the water and fill the sample container to the shoulder of the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap to prevent sample leaking. Do not take the filter paper out. Complete the analysis request form.
Shipping Instructions	Mail or return (within 72 hours) to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 30 days after receiving the sample.

Nitrite in Water

Title	Nitrite Analysis
Test Explanation	High levels of nitrites may indicate a failing septic system or contamination from fertilizers or landfills. Using Federal regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141.23 (a) (4) (i)) as a guideline, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Nitrite as Nitrogen is 1.0 mg/L (ppm). The health significance of nitrite higher than this level applies to pregnant women and infants below the age of six months. The major health effect associated with these levels is methemoglobinemia, also known as “blue-baby syndrome”.
Specimen Requirements	Samples from State government agencies, State Institutions and County Health Departments will be accepted at no charge. Contact: Bharat Patel Phone: 317-921-5586 Email: Bpatel@isdh.in.gov
Sampling Materials	Nitrite kits can be requested from the Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories Containers Area 317-921-5874 or Containers@isdh.in.gov. The kit contains * Instruction form* Analysis request form* Ice pack* One 125 mL plastic bottle.
Procedural Notes	Place the ice packs in the freezer overnight. Flush the sample tap for five (5) minutes prior to collecting the sample. Reduce the flow of the water and fill the sample container to the shoulder of the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap to prevent sample leaking. Complete the analysis request form. Place the sample bottle with the frozen ice pack and the analysis request form in the mailing container.
Shipping Instructions	The sample must be delivered to the Indiana State Department of Health to allow the laboratory to receive and complete the test before the sample is 48 hours old. Mail or return to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Chemistry Laboratories 550 W 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202-2203
Reporting and TAT	The report will be emailed/faxed or mailed within 15 days after receiving the sample.

Pesticides in Water

Title	Pesticides
Test Explanation	The Pesticide method includes crop chemicals such as Atrazine that are used extensively in Indiana and may be found in well water from runoff. The drinking water limit for atrazine is 0.003 mg/L (ppm). Atrazine found above this level may cause cardiovascular or reproductive problems. The Pesticide Method can detect dozens of chemicals. Some of these compounds are known persistent organic pollutants (POP), classified among the "dirty dozen" and banned by the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Specimen Requirements	Samples for Pesticide analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana Department of Health and other government agencies. If you require a test for a specific pesticide, please ask. Contact: Amanda Scott 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Water must be collected in one liter glass bottles with teflon lined caps, both of which were previously rinsed with solvents. Solids are collected in solvent rinsed pint glass jars with clean aluminum foil between the jar and the cap.
Procedural Notes	Sample Collection -- When sampling from a water tap, open the tap and allow the system to flush until the water temperature has stabilized (usually about two minutes). Adjust the flow so that it is smaller than the bottle opening, and collect the sample from the flowing stream. Keep samples sealed from collection time until analysis. When sampling from an open body of water, fill the sample container with water from a representative area. Sampling equipment, including automatic samplers, must be free of plastic tubing, gaskets, and other parts that may leach interfering analytes into the water sample. Automatic samplers that composite samples over time should use refrigerated glass sample containers if possible. Sample Dechlorination and Preservation -- All samples should be iced or refrigerated at 4°C and kept in the dark from the time of collection until extraction. Residual chlorine should be reduced at the sampling site by addition of 40-50mg of sodium sulfite (this may be added as a solid with stirring or shaking until dissolved) to each water sample. It is very important that the sample be dechlorinated prior to adding acid to lower the pH of the sample. Adding sodium sulfite and hydrochloric acid to the sample bottles prior to shipping to the sampling site is not permitted. Hydrochloric acid should be used at the sampling site to retard the microbiological degradation of some analytes in water. The sample pH is adjusted to <2 with 6 N hydrochloric acid. This is the same pH used in the extraction, and is required to support the recovery of acidic compounds like pentachlorophenol. If Cyanazine is to be determined, a separate sample must be collected. Cyanazine degrades in the sample when it is stored under acidic conditions or when sodium sulfite is present in the stored sample. Samples collected for Cyanazine determination MUST NOT be dechlorinated or acidified when collected. They should be iced or refrigerated as described above and analyzed within 14 days. However, these samples MUST be dechlorinated and acidified immediately prior to fortification with internal standards and surrogates, and extraction using the same quantities of acid and sodium sulfite described above. Prometon is not efficiently extracted from water at pH 2 due to what appears to be its ionization in solution under acidic conditions. In order to determine this analyte accurately, a separate sample must be collected and dechlorinated with sodium sulfite, but no acid should be added. At neutral pH, this compound is recovered from water with efficiency greater than 90%. For Water Samples - fill 2 of the one liter glass bottles to the top. For Solid - fill 1 or 2 of the pint glass jars with the solid.
Shipping Instructions	Samples must be kept refrigerated at 4°C from the time of collection to the time of analysis. Samples should be delivered to the laboratory within 1 day of collection. Ship samples by an overnight service with ice packs and adequate padding to prevent breakage, or hand-deliver to the lab. Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results will be e-mailed to the submitter normally within 30 days.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water (Useful in Contamination Investigations)

Title	Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water
Test Explanation	The Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water analysis is useful in environmental health investigations to help identify the source of contamination as human or animal in drinking water or surface water.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted only from state agencies, local health departments, or institutions doing environmental health research. This analysis is not available to the general public. One Liter of water, preferrably filtered through glass fiber in the field, should be collected and kept cold until delivery. Samples should be received within 36 hours of collection. Please contact Mark Starzynski at 317-921-5553 for further instructions.
Sampling Materials	Samples are collected in specially cleaned 1 Liter amber glass bottles with teflon-lined caps or specially cleaned 1 Liter plastic bottles. This method detects low levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Sampling personnel must be gloved and should refrain from using caffeine, nicotine, and personal care products, including anti-bacterial soaps, the day before and the day of sample collection. Soils may be collected in glass bottles and should be kept cold until delivery.
Procedural Notes	Waters need to be pre-filtered through glass fiber filters before laboratory preparation. Samples are preserved at the laboratory with EDTA.
Shipping Instructions	Samples are delivered in person to the laboratory or shipped overnight with cold packs. Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Suite B 550 W. 16th Street Indianapolis, IN 46202
Reporting and TAT	Reports are emailed or mailed within 30 days of receipt. Results for water samples are reported in ng/L (parts per trillion).

Radioactive Materials

Title	Radioactive Materials Collection and Transport
Test Explanation	The Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water analysis is useful in environmental health investigations to help identify the source of contamination as human or animal in drinking water or surface water.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for radioactive material testing must be submitted by a County Health Department, a State Agency, or a Federal Agency. Contact: Jane Smith at 317-921-5515 or ask for Radiochemistry at 317-921-5500 for further instructions.
Sampling Materials	Sampling materials can vary widely depending upon the material that is to be sampled.
Procedural Notes	To Collect Wipe Samples from an XRF Lead Paint Analyzer to check for radiation leakage you need plastic bags, a marker and alcohol wipes: The following information for each wipe is required: Location: Your County Health Dept. with contact information Manufacture and model of the analyzer Analyzer Unit Serial number Source Isotope Source Date Source Activity on that date Wipe the Lead Analyzer with an alcohol wipe and place into a labeled Ziploc-type plastic bag. Provide a blank alcohol wipe in a different Ziploc-type plastic bag and label that bag"Blank Wipe". To Collect Water Samples: The volume required can vary and glass or plastic may be required for sample integrity to be maintained. Contact Jane Smith at 317-921-5515 and the proper sample container will be shipped to your facility. Unknowns Samples: Contact: Jane Smith at 317-921-5515 or ask for Radiochemistry at 317-921-5500 for further instructions.
Shipping Instructions	Place sample(s) in an appropriate shipping container and ship or deliver to: Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Attn: Radiochemistry Laboratory 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202
Reporting and TAT	Analyte dependent.

Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Water

Title	Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
Test Explanation	The SVOC test includes EPA regulated Synthetic Organic Chemicals on the National Primary Drinking Water list, banned pesticides and insecticides, and PAHs, Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons found in coal and in tar deposits.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for SVOC analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana State Department of Health and other government agencies. If you require a test for a specific organic chemical, please ask. Contact: Mark Starzynski 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Water must be collected in one liter glass bottles with teflon lined caps, both of which were previously rinsed with solvents. Solids are collected in solvent rinsed pint glass jars with clean aluminum foil between the jar and the cap.
Procedural Notes	Water - fill 2 of the provided one liter glass bottles to the top. Solid - fill 1 of the provided pint glass jars with the solid.
Shipping Instructions	Samples must be kept refrigerated at 4°C from the time of collection to the time of analysis. Samples should be delivered to the laboratory within 1 day of collection. Ship samples by an overnight service with ice packs and adequate padding to prevent breakage, or hand-deliver to the lab. Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results will be e-mailed to the submitter normally within 30 days.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Water

Title	Volatile Organic Compounds
Test Explanation	Volatile Organic Compounds include the EPA regulated Drinking Water Volatile Organic Contaminants and Total Trihalomethanes. This test also includes compounds commonly found in gasoline. Many of these volatile organic compounds are suspected human carcinogens.
Specimen Requirements	Samples for VOC analysis will only be accepted from the Indiana State Department of Health and other government agencies. Contact: Mark Starzynski 317-921-5580 for sample containers and instructions.
Sampling Materials	Sample Containers -- 40ml screw cap vials each equipped with a PTFE-faced silicon septum.
Procedural Notes	For Water Samples: Collect all samples in duplicate. If samples contain residual chlorine and measurement of the concentrations of disinfection by-products (trihalomethanes, etc.) at the time of sample collection is desired, add about 25mg of ascorbic acid to the sample bottle before filling. Fill sample bottles to overflowing, but take care not to flush out the rapidly dissolving ascorbic acid. No air bubbles should pass through the sample as the bottle is filled, or be trapped in the sample when the bottle is sealed. Adjust the pH of the duplicate samples to < 2 by carefully adding 4 drops of 1:1 HCl for each 40ml of sample volume. Seal the sample bottles, PTFE-face down, and shake vigorously for 1 min. When sampling from a water tap, open the tap and allow the system to flush until the water temperature has stabilized (usually about 10 min). Adjust the flow so that it is smaller than the bottle opening, and collect the sample from the flowing stream. When sampling from an open body of water, fill a 1-quart wide-mouth bottle or 1-liter beaker with sample from a representative area, and carefully fill duplicate sample bottles from the 1-quart container.
Shipping Instructions	The samples must be chilled to 4°C on the day of collection and maintained at that temperature until analysis. Field samples that will not be received at the laboratory on the day of collection must be packaged for shipment with sufficient ice to ensure that they will be at 4°C on arrival at the laboratory. Indiana Department of Health Chemistry Laboratories 550 W. 16th Street, Suite B Indianapolis, In 46202
Reporting and TAT	Results will be e-mailed to the submitter normally within 15 days.

Lead in Water for Lead Assessors

Title	Lead in Water for Lead Assessors
Test Designed For	Qualified Lead Assessors from Local Health Departments, Lead & Healthy Homes or IDEM as part of a poisoning investigation.
Cost	No charge for investigations by Local Health Departments, IDEM or other state agencies and institutions.
Test Explanation	In infants and children, Lead can cause delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, kidney problems as well as high blood pressure are possible. Lead in water can be a source of lead-poisoning in children. Lead is an EPA regulated parameter. There is no safe level of lead in water, but the action limit set by the EPA is 0.015 ppm.
Specimen Requirements	Samples are accepted ONLY from Divisions of the Indiana Department of Health, State Government Agencies or from County Health Departments. Questions: Contact Quincy Bell, Qbell@health.IN.gov.
Sampling Materials	Collect drinking water from kitchen if possible or main source of drinking water. Please contact Quincy Bell, Qbell@health.IN.gov for sampling containers.
Procedural Notes	There are two draw types for water sampling: First Draw: Water that has stood motionless for at least 6 hours. Do not flush the water before taking sample. Do not sample after weekends, holidays, or extended periods of stagnation. First draw samples may be taken in the morning or at the end of the day, but the water in the residence must not be used during the prior 6-hour period. Second Draw: Does not require stagnation. Flush the water 4-5 minutes before collecting the sample, then fill up the container. First Draw and Second Draw samples give an idea of the amount of lead attributed to the plumbing. It is OK to collect only a Second Draw. Please note on the form if the property is on a private well (they do not pay for their water). We include analysis for Arsenic on any private well. Complete the analysis request form. Complete an IDOH Sample Submission Form for Water.
Shipping Instructions	Place sample container(s) in an appropriate shipping box or padded envelope. Bring / Ship to: IDOH Laboratory Attn: Environmental Lead 550 W 16th St - Suite B Indianapolis, IN 46202 Refrigeration is not required. Samples should be received within 14 days of collection.
Reporting and TAT	Routine samples will be reported within 10 business days from receipt.
Additional Information	Contact Quincy Bell at QBell@health.IN.gov