West Virginia labs
Two paths are independently verified for private well owners through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Office of Laboratory Services (OLS): (1) Environmental Microbiology tests water from private, individual households (coliform / E. coli); OLS says private citizens should first contact their local county health department so a sanitarian can collect the sample, and samples must use OLS sterile bottles; (2) Environmental Chemistry states it provides support to private well owners and lists an initial screening set of total coliform, regulated metals, and combined nitrate + nitrite — order bottles by phone or form before you collect. The table below lists 6 in-state commercial / independent laboratories from OLS’s Laboratory Certified Parameter List PDF updated 8/20/2026. Municipal / utility water-plant labs, the state agriculture Moorefield field office, OLS state labs, and all out-of-state labs are omitted from the commercial table. Call before you collect water.
What we could and could not verify
- OLS Laboratory Certified Parameter List PDF updated 8/20/2026 (104 pages; footer Thursday, August 20, 2026) retrieved successfully. Older 5/14/2026 PDF not needed.
- Verified private-well paths: OLS Environmental Microbiology (private / individual households; prefer county health department collection; OLS bottles; 30-hour hold time) and OLS Environmental Chemistry (support to private well owners; bottle order 304-965-2694 / Apr 2026 form).
- In-state commercial / independent labs tabulated: 6. Commercial private-well acceptance: unknown — call first.
- Municipal / utility water-plant labs omitted from the commercial table: 13 (Beckley Water Company; Clarksburg Water Board; Fairmont Water Plant; Morgantown Utility Board; Sweeneysburg; Weirton; Wheeling; WVAWC Bluefield / Bluestone / Huntington / Kanawha Valley / Weston; WVAW-New River).
- State agriculture Moorefield field office omitted from commercial table. OLS Chemistry / Microbiology / District (Bardane) documented in verified paths only.
- All 27 out-of-state labs on the PDF omitted — use the official OLS certified labs PDF.
- Commercial phone numbers are not printed on the OLS parameter-list PDF — marked unknown.
- Prices intentionally omitted (bottle-request forms list fees that can change). Confirm current fees with OLS or the commercial lab.
Verified for private well owners
OLS Environmental Microbiology (private / individual households)
OLS Environmental Microbiology · Microbiology bottle request form (PDF) · Local health departments map
OLS states the Environmental Microbiology Unit tests water from the majority of public water systems and also tests water from private, individual households, recreational areas, bottled water companies, and dairy plants/farms. Tests begin with coliform bacteria; positives are followed for fecal coliforms / E. coli.
OLS also states: on a limited basis and by prior arrangement, samples are received from private citizens. Private citizens needing to have their well water tested should first contact their local county health departments so a trained sanitarian can collect the sample and ensure the well is properly protected.
Samples must be collected in OLS-provided sterile containers (dechlorinating agent; sterility-tested), supplied after the Bottle Request Form. Samples must be received and testing begun within 30 hours of collection. Containers are state property and must be returned to OLS — they cannot be sent to another laboratory.
Receipt hours (as printed): South Charleston Laboratory — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except state holidays), U.S. Mail, and by special arrangements on Saturday. Bardane District Environmental Laboratory — 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday (Eastern panhandle counties: Berkeley, Jefferson, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton, and Tucker).
Contacts (as printed on the OLS page): Water Testing 304-414-2432 · Laboratory Certification 304-414-2435 · Kearneysville (Bardane) 304-725-5832 · OLS main office 167 11th Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303 · 304-558-3530. Certified-list addresses: OLS Microbiology, 4710 Chimney Drive, Suite G, Charleston, WV 25302 (Certificate 00003 M) · District Environmental Laboratory, 1948 Wiltshire Road, Suite #7, Kearneysville, WV 25430 (Certificate 00005 M).
Fees: Confirm current amounts with OLS — this directory does not republish a fee table.
OLS Environmental Chemistry (private well owners)
OLS Environmental Chemistry · Bottle request form (Apr 2026 PDF) · Information for Private Well Owners (PDF)
OLS states the Environmental Chemistry Section provides support to the Office of Environmental Health Services, County Health Departments, the Oral Health Program, and private well owners. An initial set of tests private well owners can use includes total coliform, regulated metals, and combined nitrate + nitrite.
How to order sample bottles (as printed): telephone 304-965-2694, or complete the bottle request form. Please allow about one week for delivery (per the form).
Contact: Environmental Chemistry Section, 4710 Chimney Drive, Suite G, Charleston, WV 25302 · Phone 304-965-2694 · Fax 304-965-2696. Certified-list entry: Certificate 00003 C (Inorganics; Trace Metals).
Confirm which parameters are available for private-well owners, how to submit, and current fees before you collect a sample.
In-state commercial laboratories on the OLS certified list
Call to confirm they still hold certification for the tests you need, that they will take your private-well sample, and how to ship or drop off. 0 of 6 commercial rows are independently verified for private-well acceptance. Municipal / utility plants, state OLS labs, the agriculture Moorefield office, and all out-of-state labs omitted.
| Laboratory | City | Address | Phone | Certificate | Issue / expiration (OLS) | Certification groups (OLS) | Accepts private wells? | Mail / drop-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Analytical Solutions, L.L.C. | Parkersburg | 6325 Emerson Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26104 | unknown | 00542 M | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Microbiology - Group I | unknown — call first | unknown |
| Analabs, Inc. | Crab Orchard | 196 Dayton Street, Crab Orchard, WV 25827 | unknown | 00442 CM | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Inorganics; Microbiology - Group I; Trace Metals | unknown — call first | unknown |
| Pace Analytical Services, LLC - Beaver | Beaver | 225 Industrial Park Road, Beaver, WV 25813 | unknown | 00412 CM | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Inorganics; Microbiology - Group I; Radionuclides; Trace Metals | unknown — call first | unknown |
| Pace Analytical Services, LLC - Morgantown WV | Morgantown | 16 Commerce Drive, Morgantown, WV 26501 | unknown | 00312 M | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Microbiology - Group I | unknown — call first | unknown |
| Standard Laboratories, Inc Lab 67 | Wheeling | 8 Industrial Park Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003 | unknown | 00353 M | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Microbiology - Group I | unknown — call first | unknown |
| Sturm Environmental Services | Bridgeport | 203 Brushy Fork Road, Bridgeport, WV 26330 | unknown | 00172 M | Issue 8/19/2026; expires 1/31/2027 | Microbiology - Group I | unknown — call first | unknown |
Official tools if you need more labs
- OLS Certified Labs PDF (updated 8/20/2026) — full roster including municipal/utility and out-of-state entries omitted above.
- OEHS: Water Quality Laboratories Certified in West Virginia — listing hub.
- OLS Environmental Microbiology · OLS Environmental Chemistry.
- WV local health departments map — preferred first contact for private-well bacteriological sampling per OLS.
- OEHS Individual Water Supplies · Private well owners pamphlet (PDF).