AATLS

AATLS (American Analytical Testing Laboratory Services) is an ISO 17025-accredited water testing laboratory at 9030 S Rita Rd, Suite 320, Tucson, AZ 85747, serving all of Arizona with EPA-compliant drinking-water, well-water, and environmental water analysis. Sample kits can be ordered online, and samples are accepted by mail from anywhere in the state.

Pricing depends on the analysis. Coliform and E. coli testing begins at $30, standard drinking-water panels range from $75 to $250, and comprehensive environmental analyses run $200 to $800 depending on the parameters requested. A detailed quote for a specific scope is available on request.

Standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days from sample receipt, depending on the analysis. Microbiology results such as coliform testing are generally available in 2 to 3 days. Rush turnaround is available for time-sensitive compliance needs, and all results are delivered through a secure electronic portal.

AATLS holds ISO 17025 accreditation, the international standard for laboratory competence, and is CDC ELITE certified for Legionella culture analysis, one of fewer than 200 laboratories nationwide to hold that distinction. Together these accreditations ensure results meet the standards required for regulatory compliance and legal defensibility.

Yes. AATLS accepts mailed samples from anywhere in the United States. Each sample collection kit includes certified-clean containers, the required preservatives, chain-of-custody forms, and a prepaid return label, so samples arrive under conditions that keep results valid.

At a minimum, drinking water should be tested for coliform bacteria, lead, nitrates, and pH. Well-water owners should also test annually for arsenic, fluoride, and total dissolved solids, and properties near industrial sites should add PFAS. AATLS offers comprehensive panels tailored to Arizona-specific contaminants.

Yes. AATLS provides comprehensive well-water testing for Arizona homeowners and property buyers, covering bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, fluoride, heavy metals, and other contaminants common in Arizona groundwater. Annual testing is recommended, and real estate transactions often require certified results from an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic compounds known as forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment. They have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune suppression, and commonly contaminate drinking water near military bases, airports, and industrial sites. The EPA now regulates PFAS in drinking water with enforceable maximum contaminant levels.

The EPA’s final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation sets maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) each for PFOA and PFOS, with additional limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and a hazard index for PFAS mixtures. AATLS analyzes to these ultra-low detection limits using EPA Methods 533 and 537.1.

Public water systems must complete initial PFAS monitoring by 2027 and meet the maximum contaminant levels by 2029, installing treatment and notifying the public where limits are exceeded. AATLS supports Arizona utilities in meeting these deadlines with accredited PFAS analysis, method validation, and compliance reporting.

Arizona follows the federal EPA PFAS drinking-water standards. ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality) oversees implementation and may require additional monitoring near known contamination sites, including military installations and fire-training areas. AATLS works directly with ADEQ-regulated facilities to ensure sampling, analysis, and reporting meet state requirements.

PFAS testing uses EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, with pricing that varies by the number of analytes and the sample matrix. Analysis of the compounds regulated under the new EPA rule is available at competitive rates, and a custom quote can be provided for compliance or investigative scopes.

CDC ELITE (Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation) certification means AATLS has passed rigorous proficiency testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Legionella culture analysis, a distinction held by fewer than 200 laboratories nationwide. It is the recognized standard for hospitals, cooling towers, and facilities managing Legionella risk under ASHRAE 188 water management programs.

ASHRAE Standard 188 and CMS guidelines recommend Legionella testing at least quarterly for healthcare facilities, cooling towers, and buildings with complex water systems, and monthly during initial water-management-plan validation or after remediation. AATLS provides CDC ELITE certified Legionella culture testing, with results generally in 10 to 14 days.

Yes. CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) requires hospitals to maintain water management programs that include routine Legionella testing as a condition of participation, and the Joint Commission and state health departments enforce the same expectation. AATLS provides CDC ELITE certified Legionella testing used by healthcare facilities nationwide.

Legionella culture grows viable bacteria over 10 to 14 days and is the gold-standard method required by the CDC and CMS for compliance. qPCR detects Legionella DNA within hours but cannot distinguish live from dead bacteria. AATLS recommends culture testing for regulatory compliance and qPCR as a rapid screening supplement; its CDC ELITE certification covers culture methods.

ASHRAE Standard 188 establishes minimum Legionella risk-management requirements for building water systems. It applies to hospitals, hotels, long-term care facilities, and any building with cooling towers, hot tubs, or decorative fountains, and compliance requires a water management program with routine Legionella testing. AATLS supports ASHRAE 188 programs with CDC ELITE certified analysis.

Yes. Under federal and many state programs, schools and childcare facilities must test drinking-water outlets for lead, and Arizona’s ADEQ participates in voluntary and grant-funded school testing programs. The EPA action level for lead is 15 ppb, though many states are adopting lower thresholds. AATLS provides certified lead testing with sampling kits designed for school compliance.

The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires public water systems to monitor tap water for lead and copper, with action levels of 15 ppb for lead and 1.3 ppm for copper. The revised rule (LCRI) strengthens these requirements with lower trigger levels and mandatory service-line replacement. AATLS performs accredited lead and copper compliance testing for water utilities statewide.

Collect a first-draw sample from a tap after the water has sat stagnant for at least six hours, typically first thing in the morning, using an AATLS lead testing kit, then return it to the Tucson laboratory in the materials provided. Results are delivered electronically, generally within 5 to 7 business days.

The EPA action level for lead in drinking water is 15 parts per billion (ppb), though the agency states there is no safe level of lead exposure. The revised Lead and Copper Rule introduces a 10 ppb trigger level, and several states now enforce limits below the federal standard. AATLS tests to detection limits well below 1 ppb for maximum sensitivity.

ISO 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It requires documented quality systems, validated methods, proficiency testing, and regular audits by an accrediting body. Because AATLS holds ISO 17025 accreditation, its results are legally defensible and accepted by the EPA, ADEQ, and regulatory agencies nationwide for compliance reporting.

Yes. AATLS submits analytical results directly to ADEQ and through the CMDP (Compliance Monitoring Data Portal) for regulated water systems. Its electronic data deliverables meet state formatting requirements, eliminating manual data entry for clients.

The Monitoring Assistance Program (MAP) helps small Arizona water systems meet Safe Drinking Water Act monitoring requirements through ADEQ coordination. AATLS participates as an accredited laboratory provider for MAP-eligible systems, supporting sample collection, analysis, and direct reporting to ADEQ.

AATLS provides environmental testing of soil, groundwater, wastewater, and stormwater, including metals, VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, PFAS, and petroleum hydrocarbons. These ISO 17025-accredited methods meet EPA and ADEQ requirements for site investigations, remediation monitoring, and permit compliance. Agricultural water and cosmetic product testing are also available.

Yes. AATLS offers microbial and chemical testing of cosmetic products under FDA guidelines, including preservative-efficacy and contaminant screening, as well as agricultural testing covering irrigation water quality, soil fertility, and produce safety. All analyses are performed under ISO 17025 accreditation.

Testing can be ordered online at orders.aatls.com, where clients can browse available analyses, order sample collection kits, and submit chain-of-custody forms. Orders and custom project quotes are also handled by phone or email. Kits ship nationwide with prepaid return labels and detailed collection instructions.

Results are delivered through a secure client portal and by email. Each report includes the analytical data, quality-control summaries, and method references needed for regulatory submission, and is generally available within 5 to 10 business days. Expedited reporting is available for urgent compliance deadlines.

Yes. AATLS provides pre-labeled sample collection kits shipped anywhere in the United States. Each kit contains certified-clean containers, the required preservatives, temperature monitoring, chain-of-custody forms, and a prepaid return label. Collecting the sample per the included instructions ensures results meet regulatory acceptance criteria.