Our Science
How We Test Your Water
Our test uses a method called Nile Red fluorescence microscopy — a technique developed in academic labs and validated in peer-reviewed research. We didn't invent this science. We made it accessible.
You Collect a Sample
Fill the sterile glass vial we ship you from your tap. Glass, not plastic — so the container doesn't contaminate the sample. Vials are pre-cleaned and sealed in our lab with PTFE-lined caps. No plastic touches your water at any point.
We Digest Organic Material
Your sample is treated with hydrogen peroxide to break down algae, biofilms, and other biological material that could interfere with results. This is a critical step — it prevents non-plastic organics from showing up as false positives.
We Stain with Nile Red
Nile Red is a fluorescent dye that binds specifically to hydrophobic (water-repelling) particles — which includes virtually all common plastics. It physically cannot bind to minerals, salts, or dissolved solids. Under blue light with an orange filter, plastic particles glow pink. Everything else stays dark.
We Filter and Image
The sample is vacuum-filtered through a 0.22 μm nylon membrane. Under blue light excitation (450–495nm), we capture high-resolution images at standardized magnification. Every sample is processed identically so results are directly comparable.
We Subtract the Blank
Every batch includes a procedural blank — a control processed with no water sample. Any particles that show up in the blank (from dust, airborne contamination, etc.) are subtracted from your results. This is how we ensure your count reflects what's in your water, not what's in our lab.
You get a particle count, size distribution, severity rating, and images of your actual sample.
The Research Behind It
Our protocol is based on a peer-reviewed study from UCLA's Ozcan Research Lab that validated Nile Red fluorescence for microplastic detection. The method reliably detected particles as small as 10μm across multiple polymer types including polystyrene, polypropylene, and PET, with a linear correlation (p < 0.001) between measured and actual concentrations.
The paper has been cited 50+ times in subsequent microplastics research.
Leonard, J., Koydemir, H.C., Koutnik, V.S., Tseng, D., Ozcan, A., & Mohanty, S.K. (2022). “Smartphone-enabled rapid quantification of microplastics.” Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 3, 100052. DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2022.100052
What We Detect
- ✓Particles ≥10 μm (roughly the width of a red blood cell)
- ✓All common polymers: polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, PET, polystyrene, and more
- ✓Fibers, fragments, and films
What We Don't
- ×Nanoplastics (<10 μm) — no consumer test does this
- ×Certain hydrophilic plastics — rare in drinking water
- ×Exact polymer ID — we tell you how many, not whether it's PE vs PP
- ×Rubber particles — black color obscures fluorescence
We're transparent about this because no test is perfect. The $600+ tests using FTIR/Raman detect the same particle size range — the difference is they can name the polymer type.
Quality & Validation
Procedural Blanks
Every batch includes a control with no water. Blank counts are subtracted from your results.
Cross-Validated
Periodic FTIR cross-validation with the Moore Institute (ELAB-accredited, Long Beach, CA).
Locked Protocol
Same dilution ratios, timing, and imaging conditions for every sample. Consistency = trustworthy data.
Why This Matters Now
In Your Body
- •Found in arterial plaque of heart patients (NEJM, March 2024)
- •Detected in human blood, liver, kidneys, and placenta
- •Found in breast milk and infant meconium — exposure before birth
- •Linked to cerebral thrombosis (Science Advances, 2025)
Regulation Is Coming
- •EPA has no enforceable standard for microplastics in drinking water
- •California SB 1422 requires utilities to test tap water by Fall 2026
- •New Jersey, Virginia, and Illinois have passed similar laws
- •The science is moving faster than the regulation
You shouldn't have to wait for the government to tell you what's in your water.
Results are provided for informational purposes and should not be interpreted as a regulatory or health determination. Data reflects individual household samples and may not represent municipal water system conditions.