Paint and Coatings Industry News

Main News Page

3M Offers LeadCheck™ Lead-Paint Test Kit

Friday, September 16, 2011

More items for Good Technical Practice

3M Company (St. Paul, Minn.) is billing its 3M LeadCheck™ Swabs as the first EPA-recognized lead test kit, and says the technology offers an “inexpensive and easy solution to test for lead in paint on wood or metal surfaces.”

The swabs will indicate in seconds if lead-safe practices are required, the company says. The swabs or the surface being tested turns pink or red on contact if the test is positive.

The swabs are described as odorless, disposable and non-staining; with results seen in less than 30 seconds. The kit is available at home-improvement retailers and hardware stores nationwide, the company says.

More information: 3MLeadCheck.com.

More information on questions related to compliance with EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule: www.epa.gov/lead and Renovate Right brochure.

Comment from Robert Burke, Burke Painting Company in Wilmington, DE, (9/19/2011, 10:41 AM)

Don't waste the testor on that new replacement window. I couldn't help myself, sorry!

Comment from Judy Coyne Becker, (9/19/2011, 12:03 PM)

Are these "epa approved" lead check wipes any different than the ones previously marketed by 3M Lead Check ? Are they good for painted plaster surfaces?

Comment from Sam True, (10/3/2011, 9:19 AM)

No they aren't Judy. I bought them thinking they were the kit for plaster and drywall, but they aren't. Turns out DLead is the kit i was looking for. ALso, i'm confused. The above says i will see results in 30 seconds, but reading the instructions it says i might be waiting 18 hours for my ACTUAL readout. Unfortunately i don't have time while onsite to wait for 18 hours.

Comment from Tom Schwerdt, (10/3/2011, 11:23 AM)

If you dig down at the EPA, the "approved" kits still don't meet the false positive criteria, only the 5% false negative threshold. They are only approved until someone comes up with a kit which actually meets both the false positive and false negative criteria. Also, it looks like the DLead kit was the first one approved, not 3M.

Comment from Robert Burke, Burke Painting Company in Wilmington, DE, (10/5/2011, 10:22 PM)

Anything painted before 1978 you might as well assume it's lead, thats just to make sure you sleep at night and to save your company

Comment from Robert Burke, Burke Painting Company in Wilmington, DE, (10/5/2011, 10:22 PM)

Anything painted before 1978 you might as well assume it's lead, thats just to make sure you sleep at night and to save your company

Comment from Catherine Brooks, (10/16/2011, 6:45 PM)

Thanks, Robert, for staying out of the fight about the validity of LeadCheck. Sounds like you spend energy and money moving ahead and marketing to customers who DO care about their kids' futures.