Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Lab

At a glance

What it is certified to test

6 of the 9 common well tests on the RI 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

yes (Rhode Island list)

Lab facts

Listed by

Rhode Island (Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) - Center for Drinking Water Quality and State Health Laboratories, laboratory certification)

Address

150 Richmond St. Suite 100, Providence, RI 02903 · Open in Google Maps

Phone

(401) 222-5600

Website

https://health.ri.gov/laboratory-testing/drinking-water-quality-testing

Public / homeowner samples

Public samples: yes (per state)

RIDOH's "Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs" page (https://health.ri.gov/drinking-water-quality/certified-drinking-water-testing-labs) lists this lab and says: "These labs provide analytical services for a fee to individuals and public water systems in need of testing." Call the lab to confirm it takes private-well samples.

Certification record

Certificate ID

LAI00389

Issued by

Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) - Center for Drinking Water Quality and State Health Laboratories, laboratory certification (certification program)

Expiry on the list

12/31/2026 · expires in 46 days

List version

RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00389, version page as fetched 2026-11-07 (no date printed); certificate appendix issued 3/24/2026

We fetched it

7 Nov 2026 (file SHA-256 0b86350ff6e2…) · 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*').

RIDOH certificate LAI00389 (appendix issued 3/24/2026, expires 12/31/2026) lists 134 drinking-water analyte-method pairs in: Potable Water - Microbiology, Potable Water - Organic Chemistry, Potable Water - Inorganic Chemistry. Not drinking water, so not used here: Non-Potable Water - Microbiology, Non-Potable Water - Inorganic Chemistry. The certificate names the lab "RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LABORATORY".

Nearest labs that take homeowner samples

6 other certified labs that take homeowner samples are within 25 miles of this lab. 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: Providence County, RI

• Private wells: about 52,578 people, 8% of Providence County’s 633,473 residents (USGS, 2015); rank 1 of 5 counties in Rhode Island by people on wells.
• At house sale: Statewide (Cesspool Act) has a septic system rule (R.I. Gen. Laws 23-19.15-12). What it requires
• At house sale: Statewide (Private well rules) has a well_test rule (216-RICR-50-05-2 section 2.12 (Private Drinking Water Systems)). What it requires

• 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 571 private-well users (95% range 442 to 744; 2010 base), rank 1 of 5 in the state. A screening estimate, not a measurement of any well.
• Older homes (Census ACS 2020–2024): 75% of 277,740 housing units were built before 1980, above the state share of 71%. 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): 11 public systems serving this county reported EPA UCMR 5 results; 3 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 Rhode Island 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).