PFTrDA is a perfluorinated carboxylic acid, a member of the PFAS chemical class often described by its carbon chain length (PFTrDA is C13). PFAS were developed for industrial and consumer uses in the mid-20th century for properties like water and stain resistance; many are highly persistent in the environment and resistant to breakdown. PFTrDA has no native biological function; it is a xenobiotic compound that can be absorbed from contaminated water, food, or consumer products and transported in blood where it may bind to proteins. Because it is persistent and can bioaccumulate, PFTrDA serves as a specific marker within broader PFAS exposure profiling.

Elevated PFTrDA levels can reflect higher or more recent exposure to long-chain PFAS sources such as contaminated drinking water, certain industrial products, or older consumer materials; higher values indicate a larger body burden for that compound. Interpretation of elevation is most informative when compared with other PFAS measurements and individual detoxification genetics, since co‑exposures and clearance rates affect levels. Low or non-detectable PFTrDA suggests limited recent exposure to that specific PFAS or concentrations below the assay’s detection limit, but it does not rule out exposure to other PFAS or environmental toxicants. Results should be reviewed in the context of the full Toxin Zoomer panel and clinical history to understand overall exposure patterns.

PFTrDA is included to quantify a specific long-chain PFAS within the Toxin Zoomer’s PFAS panel. Its measurement refines assessment of cumulative fluorochemical burden and exposure sources, and—when combined with other PFAS and detox-genetics data—helps clinicians identify exposure patterns and prioritize individualized evaluation.