18 named for coliform bacteria itself on the list.
Per the state list or a state web page. Call to confirm.
Located outside Louisiana but on its list.
USGS estimate for Louisiana.
How many labs test for coliform bacteria in Louisiana
18 labs on Louisiana's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for coliform bacteria. All 18 are named for coliform bacteria on the list. 1 of them is marked as taking samples from the public. They are listed first.
The list is published by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health - Laboratory Certification Program (Safe Drinking Water). List versions on file: Current as of 2/12/2026; March 2026; March 2026. Fetched 2026-11-15 (UTC).
Louisiana labs certified for coliform bacteria
Marked as taking public samples (1)
| Lab | Location | Bacteria certification | Public samples | Cert. expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Test, Inc. | Covington, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: yes (per state) | August 2026 Date on list has passed |
Other labs on the list (17)
| Lab | Location | Bacteria certification | Public samples | Cert. expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge Water Company Laboratory | Baton Rouge, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | March 2027 |
| Jefferson Parish Water Quality Laboratory | Jefferson, LA | Named on the official list | Not marked as taking public samples | 12/31/2026 (chemistry); December 2027 (microbiology) |
| JRTC & Fort Johnson Environmental Laboratory | Fort Polk, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | February 2027 |
| LDH Amite Regional Laboratory | Amite, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | June 2027 |
| LDH Central Laboratory | Baton Rouge, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | August 2028 |
| LDH Lake Charles Regional Laboratory | Lake Charles, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | November 2026 |
| LDH Rapides Regional Laboratory | Alexandria, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | October 2026 Date on list has passed |
| LDH Shreveport Regional Laboratory | Shreveport, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | February 2028 |
| Louisiana Water Company | New Iberia, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | July 2027 |
| St. Bernard Parish Water Lab | Chalmette, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | September 2027 |
| City of Alexandria Water Laboratory | Alexandria, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | January 2027 |
| City of Lake Charles Water Laboratory | Lake Charles, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | May 2027 |
| City of Marksville Water Laboratory | Marksville, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | May 2026 Date on list has passed |
| City of Shreveport T.L. Amiss Laboratory | Shreveport, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | September 2027 |
| Lafayette Utilities Systems Water Production Laboratory | Lafayette, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | February 2027 |
| Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | January 2028 |
| Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Waterworks District #1 Laboratory | Houma, LA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | November 2026 |
How the Louisiana list marks public samples (whole list). LDH's chemistry list prints 'Accepts Commercial Samples: Yes/No' for each lab. 'Yes' means the lab accepts commercial samples, which is broader than 'homeowner', so call before you send a sample. The microbiology list does not say.
Before you send a sample, call the lab to confirm it is currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Status can change between list updates.
Why test for coliform bacteria in Louisiana
About a third of the 397 domestic wells tested for bacteria in a national USGS study had total coliform. Read our coliform bacteria explainer.
EPA advises private-well owners to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. [1]
Louisiana guidance that mentions coliform bacteria:
- The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) strongly recommends testing for total coliform and E. coli bacteria at least once a year. [2]
- You can pick up a bacteria sampling kit at an LDH lab or parish health unit, or order one online for home delivery and return it yourself. A sanitarian can also come to your home and collect the sample, for a higher fee. [3]
- Louisiana does not require well testing when a home is sold, but lenders often ask for it. LDH offers a 'Water & Sewer Approval Request for Loan Letter' order online: a sanitarian collects a total coliform/E. coli sample and LDH drafts a letter for the owner or lender. For lender-required chemistry tests (lead, nitrate, arsenic), LDH lists certified labs. [2]
- LDH offers bacteriological testing of private wells through parish health units and its labs; you can start by contacting your parish health unit sanitarian. For other contaminants, LDH publishes a list of LDH-certified drinking water chemistry labs. [4]
Prices at Louisiana Department of Health, bacteriological sampling instructions (no effective date printed; online orders add a $3.50 service fee), as published when checked on 2 Nov 2026. Private certified labs set their own prices.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Bacteria kit (total coliform / E. coli), self-collected | $40 [3] |
About 491,582 people in Louisiana used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [5] Federal limits are written for public water systems, not private wells, so testing is up to the owner.
For tests that depend on your home (farms nearby, old plumbing, a new baby), use the which-tests checklist. When results arrive, check your numbers against EPA's limits. State guidance, county data and every lab: Louisiana.
Other tests in Louisiana
- U.S. EPA, Protect your home's water
- Louisiana Department of Health, Real estate well testing requirements
- Louisiana Department of Health, Bacteriological private water well sampling instructions
- Louisiana Department of Health, Private well testing information
- USGS, Estimated use of water in the United States, county-level data for 2015 (Dieter et al., ver. 2.0, 2018)
- LDH - 2026 List of Laboratories Certified by Louisiana for Drinking Water Analyses - Chemistry + LDH - List of Laboratories Certified by Louisiana for Drinking Water Analysis - Microbiology (official list)
- LDH - List of Laboratories Certified by Louisiana for Drinking Water Analysis - Microbiology (official list)
LDH - 2026 List of Laboratories Certified by Louisiana for Drinking Water Analyses - Chemistry.
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