- 9
- Lab markers
- 15
- Days until results
Polychlorinated Biphenyls Soil Test
Soil lab test kit
Price
$189
Whether PCBs are in your soil — the industrial oils banned in 1979 that persist in ground near old buildings and electrical equipment.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free shipping in 3-5 business days
What’s included
- All sampling materials
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Full contaminant details for your address
- Prepaid 2-day return shipping
- Accredited lab network
- Regulatory analytical methods
- Per-location results
- Scored against EPA + CDC standards
- HSA/FSA eligible via TrueMed
It’s worth testing for if…
- There was a transformer, substation or industrial use nearby
- The adjacent building dates from before 1979
- You are doing due diligence on a property
What are PCBs?
9 measurements
PCBs are synthetic oils that were valued for being chemically stable and non-flammable, and used in electrical transformers and capacitors, hydraulic fluid, and the caulk and sealants of mid-century buildings. Manufacture was banned in the United States in 1979, but the same stability that made them useful means the ones already in the ground are still there. They concentrate in soil near where the equipment or the building was.
How to Test
Take small scoops from a few spots across the area you care about, mix them in the bag provided, and seal it. A blend beats a single hole, because contamination in soil is patchy.
Every measurement, explained
At Nestwell, we provide science backed ranges for all the exposures in your home, allowing for personalized suggestions of in home remediation.
9 measures.
Industrial oils used in electrical equipment, caulk and sealants until they were banned in 1979. Buildings and soil from that era can still hold them.
Also measured
PCB 1016 · PCB 1221 · PCB 1232 · PCB 1242 · PCB 1248 · PCB 1254 · PCB 1260 · PCB 1262 · PCB 1268
“Detects to” is the method detection limit — the lowest concentration this kit's method can distinguish from zero. The lab may substitute an equivalent or updated method, in which case its limit may differ from the one shown.
Designed To Understand Your Whole House
A single kit answers one question properly rather than several vaguely. Whichever you start with, it is the same lab, the same methods, and the same reporting — so results from one kit sit beside results from the next, in one place, on the same scale.
Accredited labs, regulatory methods
Every sample is analyzed by an accredited environmental lab with the same methods regulatory testing uses.
Numbers with regulatory context
Results come back as a measured value next to the standard it is judged against, not just a "detected".
One box, no home visit
Everything arrives at once and we tell you both where and how to sample, no outside home inspection needed.
How Nestwell Testing Works
How Collection Works
Collect
Take small scoops from a few spots across the area you care about, mix them in the bag provided, and seal it. A blend beats a single hole, because contamination in soil is patchy.
Mail
Everything goes back in the same box with the prepaid return label. No appointment, nobody in your house, and easy to send back when convenient for you.
Read
Results land in your Nestwell dashboard in about 15 days, each scored against the standard that applies to it.
Why Nestwell?
| Capability | Nestwell | Hardware Store Strips | In Person Inspector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samples from across your home | Yes | One sample, one place | Yes |
| Real exposure concentrations | Yes | Paper colour key | Sometimes |
| Accredited lab, regulatory methods | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Nobody has to come into your home | Yes | Yes | No |
| Results tracked over time in one place | Yes | No | One time result |
A number is only useful next to its limit.
At Nestwell, we provide science backed ranges for all the exposures in your home, allowing for personalized suggestions of in home remediation.
Accredited labs only
Samples are analysed by accredited environmental laboratories using the analytical methods used for regulatory compliance work: the same reading a professional consultant would order.
Each result has a standard
A number on its own is not an answer. The EPA action level for lead in water is 15 ppb; the CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Each finding is shown against the limit that applies to it.
Where there is no limit, we say so
The EPA sets no numeric limit for mold, and moisture control is the real remedy. Mold results are reported as what is growing and at what relative level, never as just a pass or a fail.
Built with leading medical experts
Dr. Malathi Srinivasan
Clinical Professor of Medicine, Primary Care and Population Health
Stanford University
“Our physical & home environment is a direct determinant of our health, and is immunoregulatory. In a year, we breathe about 6 million times, drink 250 gallons of liquid, and eat almost 2 tons of food, with hundreds of compounds interacting on our skin and immune systems. Small environmental changes make a big difference, especially in early childhood development and for vulnerable adults.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? Find answers to common customer concerns below.
What does the Polychlorinated Biphenyls Soil Test actually measure?
The panel runs 9 measures, covering PCBs. Every one is listed on this page with its detection limit, so you can check for a specific substance before you buy.
How do I take the sample?
Take small scoops from a few spots across the area you care about, mix them in the bag provided, and seal it. A blend beats a single hole, because contamination in soil is patchy. It takes about 10 minutes, and everything you need comes in the box.
How long until I get results?
The kit reaches you in about 3 days. Once the lab receives your sample, results appear in your Nestwell account in about 15 days. Return shipping is prepaid and included.
Who analyses the sample?
An accredited environmental laboratory, using published analytical methods — the same methods and the same labs used for regulatory and commercial testing. Nestwell does not run the analysis itself.
What happens if something comes back high?
Your results are shown against the relevant reference values rather than as a bare number, so you can see which measures stand out and by how much. The lab reports what it measured; it does not diagnose, and a lab result is not medical advice.
Can I pay with an HSA or FSA?
Most Nestwell kits are HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed. Eligibility is shown on the kit page at checkout, and where it applies you can pay with pre-tax dollars.
