Louisiana labs
Two paths are independently verified for private well owners through the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH): (1) the Private Well Owner Network sample path — order online, then drop off or arrange sampling through Office of Public Health laboratories and parish health units; (2) Water Test, Inc., which the official microbiology certified list marks PRIVATE WELLS ONLY. The table below lists 9 in-state laboratories useful to private-well owners from LDH’s certified microbiology list (March 2026), Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF, and chemistry certified roster / homeowner analyte matrix (retrieved 2 October 2026). Municipal public-water-system plant labs are omitted. Call before you collect water. Test first.
What we could and could not verify
- LDH Private Well Owner Network, Private Well Testing Information, Laboratory Certification, Qualtrax microbiology (March 2026) and chemistry (current as of 2/12/2026) lists, Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF, and chemistry homeowner matrix (as of 10/17/25) retrieved successfully on 2 October 2026.
- Verified private-well paths: 2 — LDH PWON / egov Order Private Water Well Testing + OPH / parish health unit sample drop-off; and Water Test, Inc. (PRIVATE WELLS ONLY on the microbiology certified list).
- In-state laboratories tabulated for private-well owners: 9 (five LDH OPH drop-off labs, Water Test, Inc., and three in-state commercial chemistry labs that Accept Commercial Samples: Yes). Municipal / PWS plant labs omitted.
- 6 of 9 rows independently verified for private-well sample acceptance tonight (five LDH OPH labs via Sample Drop-Off PDF + Water Test, Inc.). Remaining commercial rows: call first.
- Shreveport Regional Laboratory phone differs between the microbiology list (318) 676-7809 and the Sample Drop-Off PDF (318) 676-7807 — both noted; call to confirm.
- Kansas KDHE AB Manager is JavaScript-only without a verified static export — skipped again; Louisiana chosen as the preferred verifiable high-well state.
- Fees intentionally omitted from the table. LDH publishes bacteriological fee amounts on the Private Well Testing Information page — confirm there.
- Out-of-state certified chemistry labs omitted — use the official Qualtrax chemistry list and homeowner matrix.
Verified for private well owners
LDH Private Well Owner Network — Order testing + OPH / parish health unit sample path
Private Well Owner Network · Order Private Water Well Testing · Private Well Testing Information · Sample Drop-Off Locations (PDF) · Sample Drop Off Sites map
Private water wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act the way public systems are. LDH’s Private Well Owner Network hosts sampling and stewardship resources. Homeowners can order private water well testing online and use LDH Office of Public Health laboratories and parish health units listed on the official Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (laboratory drop-off Monday–Thursday by 2:00 pm excluding holidays; parish health unit times vary — call ahead).
Agency contacts (as printed): Private Well Initiative — email PWI@LA.GOV · phone 1-888-293-7020. Laboratory Certification / OPH Laboratory: (225) 219-5200.
Fees: Confirm current amounts on the Private Well Testing Information page — this directory does not republish fee lines in the table.
Water Test, Inc. — PRIVATE WELLS ONLY (official microbiology list)
LDH microbiology certified list (Qualtrax)
The March 2026 LDH List of Laboratories Certified by Louisiana for Drinking Water Analysis — Microbiology includes Water Test, Inc. with the annotation (PRIVATE WELLS ONLY). Address and phone as printed: 21220 Highway 36, Covington, LA 70433 · (985) 892-8329 · Contact Michael Metevier, President. Also appears on the LDH chemistry homeowner analyte matrix (as of 10/17/25) for total coliform. Call to confirm packages, holding times, and fees.
Louisiana laboratories (LDH certified lists + private-well drop-off path)
These rows are transcribed from LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations, the microbiology certified list (March 2026), and/or the chemistry certified roster / homeowner analyte matrix. Municipal public-water-system plant labs on those lists are omitted here. Certification status can change — certification questions: (225) 219-5200. Call each lab to confirm they will take your private-well sample, which analytes they offer, shipping instructions, and current fees.
| Laboratory | City | Address | Phone | Accepts private wells? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDH Central Laboratory (OPH Baton Rouge) | Baton Rouge | 1209 Leesville Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | (225) 219-5200 | yes — LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (Mon–Thu by 2:00 pm excluding holidays); order via LDH private-well egov tool |
| LDH Amite Regional Laboratory | Amite | 104 North 1st Street #A, Amite, LA 70422 | (985) 748-2011 | yes — LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (Mon–Thu by 2:00 pm excluding holidays) |
| LDH Shreveport Regional Laboratory | Shreveport | 1035 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104 (Sample Drop-Off PDF also: Room 352; ZIP 71101) | (318) 676-7809 | yes — LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (Mon–Thu by 2:00 pm excluding holidays); Sample Drop-Off PDF also prints (318) 676-7807 — call to confirm |
| LDH Rapides Regional Laboratory | Alexandria | 5604-A Coliseum Blvd. Room A102, Alexandria, LA 71303 | (318) 487-5282 Ext. 197 | yes — LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (Mon–Thu by 2:00 pm excluding holidays) |
| LDH Lake Charles Regional Laboratory | Lake Charles | 2827 4th Avenue, Room 132, Lake Charles, LA 70601 | (337) 475-3236 | yes — LDH Sample Drop-Off Locations PDF (Mon–Thu by 2:00 pm excluding holidays) |
| Water Test, Inc. | Covington | 21220 Highway 36, Covington, LA 70433 | (985) 892-8329 | yes — microbiology certified list marks PRIVATE WELLS ONLY |
| Curtis Environmental Services, Inc. | LaPlace | 185 Belle Terre Boulevard, LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 653-0000 | unknown — LDH chemistry certified list (Accepts Commercial Samples: Yes) and homeowner matrix; call first |
| Element Materials Technology Lafayette, LLC | Lafayette | 2417 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 70508 | (337) 235-0483 | unknown — LDH chemistry certified list (Accepts Commercial Samples: Yes) and homeowner matrix; call first |
| SGS North America Inc. - Scott | Scott | 500 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Scott, LA 70583 | (337) 237-4775 | unknown — LDH chemistry certified list (Accepts Commercial Samples: Yes) and homeowner matrix; call first |
Official tools if you need more labs
- Louisiana Private Well Owner Network — sampling, stewardship, and map tools.
- Order Private Water Well Testing · Private Well Testing Information.
- Sample Drop-Off Locations (PDF) · Private Water Well Sample Drop Off Sites map.
- LDH Laboratory Certification · Microbiology certified list · Chemistry certified list · Chemistry homeowner analyte matrix (PDF).
- Bacteriological / potable water sampling instructions.
- Private Well Initiative: 1-888-293-7020 · PWI@LA.GOV.
- EPA certification program contacts.