The Diagnose Early PFAS FAQ

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 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. This has also led to large-scale environmental pollution.

The unique properties of PFAS saw them used in numerous firefighting applications. For decades, they have been the key ingredient in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used to fight fuel fires. They are used in the manufacture of firefighter’s turnout gear to improve heat transfer and moisture wicking. In the old days, some firefighters even soaked their kit in these chemicals because it helped them cope with the extreme conditions inside burning structures.

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. 

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. 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 as a firefighter.

Diagnose Early is focused on developing noninvasive and minimally invasive monitoring solutions for PFAS. This is part of our broader health data platform for firefighters. We are currently developing tests that can identify the presence of PFAS within your body. Our approach includes dried blood spot testing and breath analysis:

• In a dried blood spot (DBS) test, we prick your finger as if you were going to take a blood sugar reading. A couple of drops of blood are placed on a special filter paper and allowed to dry. This is then sent to our central laboratory for testing. These tests are currently under development in our R&D facility and are expected to begin trials within the next few months.
• Breath testing involves visiting one of our specialist laboratories. You will be asked to sit in front of our breath analysis machine and provide several breath samples by blowing steadily into a tube. The machine will analyze the data in real time and identify the presence of specific toxins. At present, we are working to add key PFAS compounds to the list of toxins we test for.

All the PFAS data we collect is added to the DxE Health Data Platform. This is an AI-powered platform that allows us to track your health as it evolves over time. This gives you new insights into the factors that may be adversely affecting your overall health and wellbeing.