PFAS screening, a quick start guide with Yordas Helix
May 1, 2026 by Jude Arokianathar
PFAS questions don’t usually arrive at a convenient time. They often come from customers, suppliers, or internal teams asking: “Do we have PFAS in our products?” or “Can we still sell this?”
Answering that sounds simple, but in reality, it’s not. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large and complex group of chemicals. There isn’t one single agreed list from authorities, and definitions can vary depending on where you operate or what rules apply. On top of that, PFAS can be hidden in mixtures and articles, which makes them even harder to identify.
Why PFAS identification is challenging
Before you can manage PFAS, you need to find them. But that is not always straightforward:
There is no single official PFAS list to check against
Different jurisdictions define PFAS in different ways
Substances can sit within mixtures and finished products, not just as single chemicals
Supplier data may have gaps
Simple list checks can miss substances
Because of this, PFAS identification can quickly become time-consuming, inconsistent, and difficult to defend.
A quick and practical starting point
Yordas Helix is designed to help you take the first step quickly and with confidence. Rather than trying to solve everything at once, Helix gives you an easy starting point for PFAS identification using trusted substance data and built-in tools. It brings together consolidated PFAS lists developed by Yordas, reviewed by chemists and PFAS and regulatory experts, and supported by in-house tools. Our experts are also on hand to guide you, helping you interpret results and decide on the right next steps.
1. Start with a recognised definition
Choose from commonly used PFAS definitions to match your needs.
2. Generate a PFAS substance list
Helix creates a practical working list based on your chosen definition. These lists are curated and checked by Yordas experts, giving you a strong and reliable starting point.
3. Screen your substances quickly
Compare your portfolio against the list to get a clear first view of where PFAS may be present.
4. Keep your results up to date
As data changes, Helix helps you stay informed so your screening does not become outdated.
More than just a list check
It is important to remember that this is an initial step, not the final answer. PFAS identification often needs deeper analysis, especially when substances are part of mixtures or articles, or where they do not appear on standard lists.
To support this, Yordas also offers a unique service to review your portfolio in more detail. This includes assessing your chemical lists, including those within materials and products, to identify potential PFAS and understand their relevance to regulations, obligations, and business risks.
This approach is tailored to your specific situation and goes beyond simple screening. Where needed, Yordas applies custom identification methods, supported by in-house tools and expert review, to give you greater confidence in your results.
What happens next?
Once you have your initial PFAS view, you can:
Focus on the products that need deeper investigation
Engage suppliers with clearer and more targeted questions
Respond to customers with more confidence
Plan next steps such as substitution or compliance actions
Take the first step
Yordas Helix helps you get started quickly, with the right balance of data, tools, and expert support, so you can move forward with clarity.
This quick start is only the beginning. The next step is understanding PFAS in more complex situations, including materials and finished products, supplier engagement, and how to define the right scope for assessment.
Moving beyond the quick start: tackling PFAS in materials and products
In the first step, Yordas Helix helps you quickly screen your substances and build an initial view. This gives you a clear and practical starting point.
PFAS are not always easy to spot at a substance level. They are often present within mixtures, materials, and finished products. This means the question is no longer just “Is this substance a PFAS?” but “Where could PFAS exist across our products and supply chain?”
Why the next step is more challenging
Once you move beyond initial screening, new challenges appear:
PFAS may be present in materials and articles, not clearly listed as individual substances
Supplier data can be incomplete, inconsistent, or difficult to interpret
Different markets bring different regulatory expectations and definitions
It is not practical to investigate everything in detail at once
The risk is either missing important issues or spending time where it is not needed
From screening to scoping
To move forward effectively, you need a way to focus your efforts with a targeted and practical approach. This is where scoping assessments come in.
A scoping assessment helps you:
Identify which products, materials, or suppliers are more likely to involve PFAS
Prioritise where deeper investigation is needed, especially higher-risk areas
Build a clear and structured plan for next steps
Combining Helix with expert-led assessment
Helix remains an important part of this stage. It provides the baseline from your initial screening and continues to support consistent data handling with expert guidance.
Using your portfolio data, including substances within mixtures and products, Yordas experts carry out more detailed reviews to:
Identify potential PFAS that may not appear on standard lists
Assess how PFAS may be present within materials and finished products
Interpret supplier information and highlight gaps
Understand relevance to regulations, obligations, and business risk
This work is tailored to your specific portfolio, markets, and priorities.
Engaging with suppliers in a practical way
Supplier engagement becomes more important at this stage, but it also needs to be focused. Instead of broad and open-ended requests, a scoped approach allows you to:
Ask targeted questions based on identified risks
Focus on priority suppliers and materials
Improve the quality and usefulness of responses
Reduce delays and repeated follow-ups
This makes supplier communication more efficient and more effective.
Building a clear and manageable process
By combining Helix with scoping assessments and expert support, PFAS identification becomes more manageable:
Start with a clear baseline using Helix
Use scoping to prioritise effort
Apply deeper analysis where it matters most
Engage suppliers in a focused way
This approach helps you move from uncertainty to a structured and defensible process.
Taking the next step with confidence
PFAS identification across materials and products can feel complex, but it does not need to be overwhelming.
With the right starting point, a clear scope, and expert support, you can focus your time where it matters and build a reliable understanding of PFAS across your portfolio.
Yordas combines Helix with tailored assessment and expert review to help you take this next step with confidence.
Keep up to date with the latest PFAS updates.
If you have any questions regarding PFAS, please get in touch.
Jude Arokianathar | Senior Regulatory Consultant
Jude is part of the Product Stewardship team at Yordas, where he is a Senior Regulatory Consultant. He has a background in chemistry with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and MSci in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. During his Ph.D. and MSci, he conducted and managed several scientific research projects, where he performed risk assessments for an array of hazardous chemicals; collected, analysed and reported analytical data; and prepared scientific reports, publications and conference presentations
Jude is a subject-matter expert in PFAS. With his strong scientific and regulatory background, he guides clients through their “PFAS compliance journey”, including global monitoring and tracking of relevant regulatory updates, advising on the scope and implications of these updates, and identifying PFAS contained in products. He has produced several high-impact communications, including articles, fact sheets and presentations on PFAS as well as other substances of concern. Notably, last year, he co-authored a review article in the International Chemical Regulatory and Law Review journal regarding “Global Regulations Around PFAS: The Past, the Present and the Future”.
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