# SimpleLab

> SimpleLab (gosimplelab.com) sells laboratory testing for water, soil, air, food, surfaces and other materials to individuals and organizations. Customers pick a test, receive a sampling kit with instructions and prepaid shipping, send samples to a partner lab, and get an easy-to-understand digital report.

Last updated: 2026-10-19

The product endpoints below are public, read-only JSON APIs for finding the right SimpleLab test. They need no authentication. Link people to a product page at `https://gosimplelab.com/shop/products/{handle}`, or to a prefilled cart (see Cart Links).

## Product Endpoints

- [OpenAPI spec](https://gosimplelab.com/openapi.json): Parameters and response shapes for the three endpoints below.
- [Search products](https://api.gosimplelab.com/api/ai/products/search?contaminants[]=Lead&matrices[]=1): Use when the person knows what they want. Returns products that test for ALL of the requested contaminants (AND logic), ordered by relevance.
- [Browse products](https://api.gosimplelab.com/api/ai/products/browse?contaminants[]=Lead&contaminants[]=Arsenic&matrices[]=1): Use for vague or exploratory requests. Returns products that test for ANY of the requested contaminants (OR logic). Each product lists `matching_analytes` (which requested contaminants it covers) and `match_strength` (how many), and results are sorted by `match_strength`, highest first.
- [Compare products](https://api.gosimplelab.com/api/ai/products/compare?handles[]=drinking-water-test-level-1-bacteria&handles[]=drinking-water-test-level-2-bacteria): Use for product-page detail on up to 5 products by handle, such as test methods, self-test analytes and the pay-later activation price. Unknown handles are listed in `not_found`.

## Parameters

Array parameters repeat the key with brackets, e.g. `?contaminants[]=Lead&contaminants[]=Arsenic`.

- Search and browse:
  - `search_term`: Optional free text, up to 255 characters. Also matches SKUs.
  - `contaminants[]`: Optional analyte names or numeric analyte IDs. Names must match exactly, including case (`Lead`, not `lead`). Analyte names as returned in `analytes_by_category` are valid inputs. `Legionella` and `Total PFAS` are accepted as group terms covering their member analytes.
  - `matrices[]`: Optional matrix IDs to restrict results by sample type:
    - `1`: Drinking Water
    - `2`: Wastewater
    - `3`: Non-Potable Water
    - `4`: Soil
    - `8`: Food
    - `9`: Solid
    - `12`: Surface (wipe, swab, tape and dust tests of surfaces, not surface water)
    - `13`: Air
    - `14`: Sediment
    - `15`: Surface Water
  - `page`: Page number, default 1.
  - `page_size`: Search default 10, max 20. Browse default 25, max 50. Larger values are capped at the max.
- Compare:
  - `handles[]`: Required, 1 to 5 product handles from search or browse results.

## Responses

- Search and browse return `summary` (`total`, `page`, `page_size`, `total_pages`, `applied_filters`) and `products`.
- Every product includes `name`, `handle`, `sku`, `matrix`, `price` and `msrp` (USD), `rush` and `paylater` (whether rush turnaround and pay-later options exist), `turnaround_time` (business days), `analytes_count`, `description`, `recommended_for` and `analytes_by_category`.
- Invalid parameters return HTTP 422 with `result` (`ERROR`) and a `message`. Send an `Accept: application/json` header to also get per-field `errors`.

## Cart Links

To help someone buy, give them a cart link. It replaces their current cart with the listed tests and opens it, and they review and pay themselves.

- Format: `https://gosimplelab.com/cart/{item},{item}?ref=agent:{your-name}`. Each item is a product `sku` or `handle`, optionally followed by `:{quantity}` (default 1).
- Example: `https://gosimplelab.com/cart/SL-SL-DW-E-S-QC2:2,radon-water-test?ref=agent:example`
- A handle adds the product's standard option.
- Up to 10 products per link and up to 20 of each. Items that can't be added are listed for the person on the cart page.
- `ref` identifies your agent, up to 100 characters. Discount codes can't be applied by link.

## Rate Limit

30 requests per minute per IP address across the three endpoints. Over the limit, responses are HTTP 429 with a `Retry-After` header giving the seconds to wait.