When it comes to water quality, what you don't know can hurt you. by Gene Rosov A Builder's Guide to Water Testing purposes. Some labs go to the trouble of being certified in several states; this may be a further indication that they take quality testing seriously. Look for a lab that is certified in at least one New England state. Some labs advertise that they use "certified" methods. If they state this without listing an actual laboratory certification by a state or state agency, beware. Any lab advertising the use of certified methods without actually being certified should be considered highly suspect for any analysis. In some areas, lending institutions and local Federal Housing Authority and Veterans Administration officials