Radon Test Results

How can I get my test results?

Once the lab determines the test results, it will send them out via the method you have chosen on your Information Card. The lab can email, fax, or mail the report to you. Lab tracking and downloadable test results are also available here with the Test Serial Number and mailing address zip code. (Be sure that your browser is updated and compatible with our system. A list of compatible browsers can also be found here.)

If you want additional reports or need to contact the lab for any reason, you will need your Test Serial Number.

When will my test results be ready?

• Results are generally available 3-5 business days after our lab receives the sampler. During high volume times, such as our peak season from November to April, results may take longer.  If you need your results quickly we recommend purchasing Expedited Analysis Service which will guarantee your results are delivered by the end of the next business day after the lab receive your sampler.
• There is no time window guarantee for regular service – if you need your results immediately, we strongly recommend you purchase Expedited Analysis Service and ship your kit via an expedited method.

What do my test results mean?

• Below 2 pCi/L (74 Bq/m3) is considered a low level of radon and a good test result.
• Above 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) is considered a dangerous level of radon and the EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon levels. How to mitigate?
• Between 2 and 4 pCi/L (74-148 Bq/m3) is considered by the EPA to be an acceptable but not ideal result. No level of radon is considered safe, so a follow-up test may be warranted to confirm test results. Many times, a long term test kit, available from Alpha Lab for an additional fee, is warranted for these follow-up tests.
• The national indoor average for radon is estimated 1.3 pCi/L, and the outdoor air averages 0.4 pCi/L. For more detailed information.
• If you would like some additional information about your radon results, you can visit the EPA’s website or call your state radon contact (find yours here).

My test results were high. What do I do now?

• For a test above 4.0 pCi/L the EPA recommends undergoing mitigation to reduce your test levels. Neither Alpha Energy or LabTech provide mitigation services. You can find a list of licensed mitigation firms here, and you can also speak with your State Radon Contact for a more complete list of mitigation firms that do work in your area.
• For more information you can also refer to the Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction.

What does the “<" on my report mean? 

The “<” symbol indicates that the measured radon concentration in your sample was less than the detector’s Lower Limit of Detection (LLD). This is usually for one of two reasons:

1. Your radon concentration was very low and is below the detector’s LLD for these test parameters.

2. Your radon test kit took more than the recommended 10 days to arrive in our laboratory. The longer it takes to arrive in the laboratory, the higher the detector’s LLD.

More information on Lower Limit of Detection

For every test, the LLD is calculated. It primarily depends on the amount of time it takes for the test kit to arrive in the laboratory. Under ideal circumstances, the lab detectors are capable of measuring radon levels as low as 0.3 pCi/L (11 Bq/m3).

However, the longer the kit takes to arrive at the lab, the more the radon collected in the sampler undergoes radioactive decay. This means that over time, radon and its daughter particles “disappear” from the sampler. As these particles decay, the LLD rises as there is now less radon in the sampler to measure. This decay of radon raises the Lower Limit of Detection.

If the measured radon level is below the detector’s LLD, the report lists the test result as Less than the LLD value. The lab determines with a high degree of confidence that the radon level in your sample was below the LLD. However, due to statistical variation and radioactive decay, the lab cannot precisely pinpoint an exact radon level with a high degree of confidence.

For example, if the measured radon level in your test kit was 1.0 pCi/L and the LLD for your test was 2.0 pCi/L, the report would list the result as “< 2 pCi/L”. In this example, it is equally likely that your radon level below 2.0 pCi/L. Because the measured level was below the LLD (in this case, 2.0 pCi/L), any measured radon result below 2.0 pCi/L could be simply due to statistical variation. It is impossible to know the exact level with a high degree of confidence due to statistical variation.
In this situation, the lab can determine with a high degree of confidence that your radon level was below the indicated value, however, it cannot precisely determine the exact radon level present. To ensure you have the most accurate results, we will report the test result as Less than the LLD Value.

If your test kit takes a long time to arrive at the laboratory, the lab will do its best to calculate a valid radon result. For samplers that arrive in 10 or more days after the end of the test, the LLD value can become very high. This is the reason it is recommended to use expedited shipping to return the sample to the lab, and the reason the lab must receive your test within 10 days for best results.