1. Identify the Product That Was Tested
Start with the sample information.
A useful test report should identify what was submitted for testing.
Look for details such as:
- Product name
- Sample description
- Manufacturer or client
- Sample identification
- Testing date
This matters because a test result applies to the sample and testing scope described in the report.
If only a fabric component was tested, for example, that is different from testing the finished product.
2. Check the Laboratory
Look for the laboratory that performed the testing.
An independent laboratory can provide additional transparency because the analysis is performed outside the manufacturer's own testing process.
A formal report may also include a report number, testing date, laboratory information, and other identification details.
These details make the result easier to verify and understand.
3. Find the Testing Method
The next thing to look for is the testing method.
A laboratory report should identify the method used to analyze the sample.
This is important because different methods can measure different things.
For example, a fluorine screening test and targeted PFAS analysis are not necessarily the same type of test.
Knowing the method helps you understand what the reported result actually represents.
4. Look at the PFAS Testing Scope
The word PFAS refers to a large family of substances.
A test report may therefore include a list of individual PFAS compounds or a defined testing panel.
Do not assume that every laboratory test covers every PFAS substance.
Instead, look at the actual list or scope included in the report.
The question is not simply:
“Was PFAS tested?”
It is:
“Which PFAS were included in the testing?”
5. Understand “ND — Not Detected”
One of the most common results you may see is:
ND
This means Not Detected.
In general, it means that the substance was not detected above the applicable detection limit of the testing method.
This is an important distinction.
ND does not necessarily mean the concentration is mathematically zero.
It means the substance was not detected at or above the level the method was capable of detecting for that test.
6. Look for the Detection Limit
The detection limit tells you something about the sensitivity of the test.
You may see terms such as:
MDL — Method Detection Limit
or
LOD — Limit of Detection
For example, if a report lists an applicable detection limit and the result is ND, you can understand that the substance was not detected at or above that specified level.
This is why “ND” is more meaningful when the detection limit is also provided.
7. Check Whether the Report Uses Screening or Targeted Testing
This distinction can be important.
Some testing approaches look for fluorine as a screening indicator.
Because PFAS contain fluorine, fluorine measurements can sometimes raise questions about the possible presence of fluorinated compounds.
However, detecting fluorine does not automatically identify a specific PFAS.
Targeted PFAS analysis works differently by looking for specified substances included in the test scope.
When reading a report, identify which approach was used.
8. Finished Product vs. Individual Material
Another important question is:
What exactly was tested?
A manufacturer might test:
- The finished product
- A fabric
- A waterproof layer
- An absorbent material
- A component
- A supplier-provided material
These results should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
A finished-product test can provide information about the product sample as a whole, while component testing provides information about the specific material examined.
9. What Does a PFAS Test Actually Prove?
A laboratory test provides evidence within a defined testing scope.
It can tell you what the laboratory found in the tested sample using the specified method.
It does not necessarily answer every question about every possible chemical in the product.
This is why a responsible PFAS claim should be connected to the actual testing scope.
The more transparent the report is about the product, method, substances tested, results, and detection limits, the easier it is for consumers to understand the claim.
A Quick Way to Read a PFAS Test Report
When you open a laboratory report, look for these five things first:
- What was tested?
- Who tested it?
- What method was used?
- Which PFAS were included?
- What were the results and detection limits?
If you can answer those five questions, you already understand most of the information needed to evaluate a PFAS-related product claim.
Why Transparency Matters
Consumers increasingly want more than a simple “PFAS-free” statement.
They want to understand the evidence behind it.
A transparent test report can show consumers:
- What product was tested
- What substances were evaluated
- How the analysis was performed
- What the laboratory found
- How sensitive the testing method was
This gives consumers more information when comparing products.
What About MOLLIS?
MOLLIS Disposable Period Underwear has product-specific PFAS testing information available for consumers who want to look beyond a simple PFAS-free claim.
The available SGS documentation identifies the tested product, testing method, PFAS testing scope, and reported results.
View MOLLIS PFAS Test Results →
The Bottom Line
A PFAS test report does not need to be intimidating.
Start with the basics:
Product → Laboratory → Method → Testing Scope → Results → Detection Limit
Most importantly, remember that “Not Detected” should always be understood in the context of the test method and detection limit.
The goal of reading a laboratory report is not to prove that a product contains absolutely nothing.
It is to understand what was tested, how it was tested, and what the results actually show.