Chemistry Services
The Chemistry Services section of the NH Public Health Laboratories consists of two units: Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry
The program provides services to health care providers and individuals, as well as health officers, food protection personnel, and numerous law enforcement agencies. Ongoing research projects on arsenic in urine, mercury in blood, and phthalates in urine are in various stages or development.
- The Inorganic Chemistry unit performs lead testing on blood specimens from children and adults from all around NH. The scientists also perform lead testing on dust, paint, soil, pottery and food products. The lab is approved by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) and accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association for this testing. The unit also tests for cadmium and mercury in biological specimens, and arsenic in urine.
- The Organic Chemistry unit tests clinical samples and foods for unknown, potentially toxic, organic chemicals. The phthalates in urine project falls in the realm of the Organic Chemistry section.
Both units work in conjunction with the Bureau of Food Protection, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.