Microbac Laboratories, Inc.

At a glance

What it is certified to test

5 of the 9 common well tests on the IL list (see which)

Price

not published on the state list: ask the lab for a quote

Turnaround

not stated on the state list or the lab’s website: ask when you order

Homeowner samples

not stated: ask the lab

Lab facts

Listed by

Illinois (Illinois EPA - Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (IL ELAP, chemistry) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH, water microbiology))

Address

250 West 84th Drive, Merrillville, IN 46410 · Open in Google Maps

Phone

(219) 769-8378

Public / homeowner samples

Public samples: ask the lab

Not stated in the list.

Location note

Lab is in IN, certified by Illinois (often used as a mail-in lab).

Left blank on the list

The Illinois list (version 12/09/2025 (date in the file name; the PDF prints no date); Revision Date Thursday, December 4, 2025; TNI LAMS as fetched 2026-11-15) gives no website for this lab.

Certification record

Certificate ID

IEPA 200064; IDPH Lab # 1755266

Issued by

Illinois EPA - Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (IL ELAP, chemistry) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH, water microbiology) (certification program)

Expiry on the list

6/30/2027 (IL ELAP chemistry); Mar 2026 (IDPH microbiology) · Date on list has passed (229 days ago)

List version

IEPA Accredited Laboratories (Primary Labs / Secondary Labs) - Laboratories Accredited for Chemical Analysis + Illinois Department of Public Health - Certified Water Microbiology Laboratories + TNI LAMS fields of accreditation (Drinking Water, accrediting body IL ELAP), version 12/09/2025 (date in the file name; the PDF prints no date); Revision Date Thursday, December 4, 2025; TNI LAMS as fetched 2026-11-15

We fetched it

15 Nov 2026 (file SHA-256 a9331e2f0302…) · open the state file

Tests on the state list

• Named on the official list The state list names this analyte (or a column for it) for this lab.
• Group-level certification Certified for a parent group (e.g. 'Inorganics') that includes this analyte. Confirm the specific test with the lab.
• Partial group certification The list marks the group as 'Partial'. Confirm this analyte with the lab.
• Subcontracted The lab sends this analyte to another accredited lab (MDH 'X*').

IEPA's chemistry list names no analytes; the 28 drinking-water analytes listed here are the lab's IL ELAP fields of accreditation in TNI LAMS (TNI01842), status Accredited. IEPA lists it under 'Secondary Labs' (accredited in Illinois on the basis of another state's NELAP accreditation). TNI LAMS records 'Commercial Samples: Yes' for this lab. TNI LAMS names it 'Microbac Laboratories, Inc. - Chicagoland Division'. IDPH certifies this lab for these water microbiology methods: HPC, Colilert 18 P/A, Colilert 24 P/A, Colilert 24 Quantitray. IDPH lab type: Commercial. IDPH marks it as an out-of-state laboratory approved by reciprocity. The microbiology expiry month printed on IDPH's list (Mar 2026) has passed (checked Nov 15, 2026). Check the lab's current status with IDPH.

Also certified by other states

Same business (same street address and ZIP) on another state's official list. Each state certifies separately, so each listing keeps its own source.

• Kansas · KS Lab ID E-10397 · Nitrate, Arsenic, Lead, Manganese, Other metals · Public samples: ask the lab
  KDHE Approved Laboratory Search (AB Manager public database, Matrix: Drinking Water) (Live database, searched 2026-11-15 ("believed to be accurate at the time of the search"))
• Indiana · no ID on list · Coliform / E. coli, Nitrate · Public samples: ask the lab
  IDOH Water Test Facilities Application (in-state drinking water laboratories) (layer data edited 2026-08-17)

Nearest labs that take homeowner samples

No other lab that takes homeowner samples is within 25 miles of this lab; the nearest is 38 miles away. Distances are straight-line from the address on the state list (approx. = ZIP-code centre). “Takes homeowner samples” comes from a state list column or the lab’s own website, as named.

Price and turnaround as printed on each lab’s own website and checked by a second reader; – = not published or not read yet.

Around this lab: Lake County, IN

• Private wells: about 45,859 people, 9% of Lake County’s 487,865 residents (USGS, 2015); rank 9 of 92 counties in Indiana by people on wells.

• EPA radon zone (indoor air): Zone 2: moderate potential (average indoor radon may be between 2 and 4 pCi/L). EPA says the zone map should not decide whether one home needs testing.
• Arsenic above 10 µg/L (USGS model): about 3,001 private-well users (95% range 2,241 to 3,983; 2010 base), rank 19 of 92 in the state. A screening estimate, not a measurement of any well.
• Older homes (Census ACS 2020–2024): 66% of 217,436 housing units were built before 1980, above the state share of 55%. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead solder or fittings, so test tap water for lead there.
• PFAS in public water nearby (public supply, not your well): 18 public systems serving this county reported EPA UCMR 5 results; 0 had a PFOA or PFOS sample at or above 4.0 ng/L.

County figures describe where the lab is, not the lab. Sources: USGS 2015 water use and 2017 arsenic estimates, EPA radon zones, Census ACS table B25034 (2020–2024), EPA UCMR 5 (2023–2026); details and links on the sources page.

Before you send a sample

Call the lab to confirm it's currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Bacteria samples have short holding times. Status can change between list updates. To check a status, contact the Illinois certification program.

Is this your lab?

Labs can ask for corrections through the agency that publishes their state list. Homeowner service, prices and turnaround above come only from the lab’s own website. To ask us to correct or remove this listing, write to us (how we handle listings).