3M LeadCheck Lead test kit deep dive
In a word? No.
Before I address the EPA approval issue on lead tests let me delve a little deeper into why I created the lowest cost Lead Test swabs ever, how they work and most importantly how it taken us to this point. Where I am proud to manufacture and distribute the lowest cost per test chemical lead detection kit ever.
In 2019 I identified 3M's LeadCheck brand as an example of a corporation asleep at the wheel, since 2011 3M has been selling LeadCheck's for about 5$ each. They were afforded a patent monopoly because they purchased an existing patent (which expired in 2019) from Hybrivet Systems Inc. You can read the full Patent Here.
How Leadcheck started
Marcia Stone, or Dr. Stone invented the concept of a sequestered vial of Sodium Rhodizonate and an acid, First it was HCl or hydrochloride acid then it became tartaric acid later, but I dont know if that's important. This is a fun aspect to how silly patents really can be, for the record she nor 3M ever had to defend their patents in court, something I'm confidant they would not have been successful in doing. Since anyone could make the case that sodium rhidzonate is known to not last long in water, and that holding a portion of it along with a portion of dissolution solution would solve that problem. What is obvious? What is not? its KSR Vs. Teleflex, its a fictitious skilled person in the art, its legalese.
Anyway- she invented this in the mid 1990's when Lead detection was a burgeoning industry.
After Title X passed in 1992 there was a push to begin proactively identifying lead based paint in federally funded housing to remedy a growing issue- pervasive unsafe living conditions for low income family's living in housing built and maintained by HUD. Also known as Housing and Urban Development.
In order to identify lead the government settled on a limit of how much lead would constitute "Lead Based Paint" the number they centered on was 5000 ppm. This was higher than the original CSPC derived definition of Lead Based paint of 600ppm in 1973 BUT this law is the most substantial and costly undertaking in history to remove lead from peoples homes.
Anyways, In 2011 just after 3M purchased the rights to LeadCheck the EPA opened what is known as the ETV program, or Enviromental Technology Verification. This program funded a study on lead paint chemical tests to determine if they were accurate enough to detect lead based paint. The EPA published information at this time indicating that an ideal test, like an XRF unit would identify only "Lead Based Paint".
the EPA Recognized three test kits after this program concluded. Leadcheck, D-lead and The State of Massachutes lead tests all passed.
What did passing mean?
only that the lead tests positively identified lead based paint more than 95 percent of the time.
this is relatively easy to do, Scitus, Fluoro-Spec and even the Chinese Rhodizonate acid based swabs can all do better.
So why haven't any other lead testing kits been recognized?
because right after the ETV program concluded the EPA changed the recognition criteria, They now require any lead test to test negative 90% of the time below the limit, 20% below the limit to be precise (to allow for some wiggle room)
While Chemical Lead Test Kits are not allowed to be relied upon by any professional working on a HUD property, they ARE allowed to be used by Certified Renovators under the RRP rule.
This is apparently because the Federal Government is unwilling to spend money when its not obligated to on renovating housing just because a chemical lead test found lead there. Which I totally get, for the same reason if your not speeding you dont get a ticket. The law is the law.
There are a lot of facets to lead exposure but the one which cannot be escaped is Money.
The need to generate a profit brought lead into the world, pushed by salespeople and corporations driven by profits, profits that bought political compliance for decades, suppressing science and poisoning millions of children and adults. Robbing young people of IQ points and killing people the older folks.
It is my belief that corporations shape this world, and that is why I am a small buisness owner. I believe that corporations are powerful tools to enact change, for better or worse.
Why Fluoro-Spec and Scitus?
Why did I create Scitus Swabs in 2019 and why did I create Fluoro-Spec in 2024? because these products lower the barrier to entry into lead detection. Something that in the end is so simple and easy to accomplish, but is mired in complexity and controversy since the very act of finding lead based paint COULD very well mean someone has to pay.
Lead Testing Swabs, can be activated by an acid like vinegar and used to identify Lead in paint. But beware- modern e-commerce has transformed what was once an exclusive club into a Chinese product free for all.
If you purchased Scitus, you are in good hands- although it is not the most cutting edge lead detection technology on the market it IS the best low cost option that exists.
Orange lead testing swabs don't work, and their creators care little about this fact.
that is all for now