Published: September 11, 2023
https://amzn.to/3PaO1ON
affiliate link
affiliate link
OK! Here’s the scoop (I have also made SEVERAL videos about this, and will be publishing them in the coming days – as well as making some more!)…
When 3M first bought the rights to produce and distribute the LeadCheck® swab products, they became a major sponsor of my advocacy work. Beyond the obvious calculated “PR value” to them, the individuals involved genuinely believed it was critical for consumers (families) to have access to a reliable way of testing the legacy paint on older homes for Lead themselves. Over the course of our relationship 3M donated hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of their LeadCheck® test kits in support of my work “to use as I wished” (to use in the direct support we were providing to families of Lead poisoned children around the country, or sell/use to raise funds for other advocacy programs, etc.) They were expensive, and – in many areas – not always easy to find… so I decided to distribute as many as I could for FREE — to tens of thousands of families all around the world every year! (Sadly, that program ended when 3M’s sponsorship of our advocacy work ended in 2016.)
–
Fast forward to today…we have been deluged with reports that no one can seem to find the 3M kits available for sale ANYWHERE anymore!
It appears that (earlier this year) 3M may have stopped making their LeadCheck® swabs (possibly because they were part of “an unprofitable division” (which they axed) …and possibly also because their patent expired on the technology — and they could anticipate a resultant serious hit to their product’s sales, as any company eager to introduce cheap foreign knock-offs would now be free to copy their previously-protected single-source product [which is of course, exactly what happened!].)
–
Scitus (https://amzn.to/3PaO1ON — aflink) stepped in to make a reliable replacement product a while back, but had some issues with the initial formulation and packaging. Scitus is USA-BASED — the product is AMERICAN-MADE (in Long Island). I have now spent a great deal of time discussing the issues with the owner of Scitus (Eric), who I subsequently formally interviewed for a video that I will be publishing soon.
Over several months, Eric and I have discussed nearly every facet of Lead-testing issues, large and small, and have also gotten to know each other pretty well! Eric is genuinely caring — and in fact, passionate — about the need for and potential benefit of reliable home testing products based on the proven science; about his own ongoing R&D, and about his evolving product line which provides consumers with reliable & inexpensive tools for easy and quick screening to detect any Lead-based paint present in their homes. He is truly in this for the right reasons. At this point Eric and I have spent something like 15 hours talking on the phone & Zoom about his products, and the issue of childhood Lead-poisoning — as well as the need to create additional reliable testing options for consumers – for different types of testing! Fundamentally our goals are 100% aligned: we are both committed to protecting kids from Lead-poisoning.
IMPORTANT CONTEXT: Reactive-agent home test kits have NEVER worked well on [MOST] CONSUMER GOODS.
Eric (at Scitus) designed the product to detect Lead in house paint — down to the threshold of 500 ppm [similarly, the LeadCheck® product historically was reliable down to 600 ppm Lead in house paint].
–
The main “issue” with the Scitus product is not the product itself, but the fact that, unfortunately, people everywhere have been buying these test kits to test consumer goods (products) — when these kits have been expressly designed to test for Lead in house paint, NOT Lead in products.
- All currently available reactive-agent home test kits for Lead can give both false positives and false negatives when used to test consumer goods [again — that is an inappropriate use — for which they were NOT designed or intended] .
- These false and misleading results create panic in consumers (or can “reassure” a parent that a product is safe when it actually may not be!)
- This has resulted in persistent viral misinformation on social media that distracts and confuses consumers, undermining trust in Lead-testing in general, and taking the crucial focus off of REAL data about REAL Lead hazards, and the need to identify and recall GENUINELY-contaminated products, and holding manufacturers (and “certification mills”) accountable for their ACTUAL blunders and misdeeds!
When Eric found out I had written an article generally disparaging the new generation of test kits (specifically because they are not a reliable method for testing consumer goods) and I was essentially “bashing” his product — alongside all the Chinese knock-offs of his product — by saying they were “garbage, and should never be used,” he reached out to me and asked for my input and advice on how to fix the problems with his product.
HOW MANY COMPANIES DO THAT?!
This is what the knock-off kits look like (although there are several different types of packaging they come in, now):
During (and since) our initial call, Eric and I have had MANY long discussions regarding what was not working about his product, and about how the language on his packaging needed to be clearer and more explicit. He responded by re-doing the packaging, re-writing the language in his Amazon listings (Note: the new Amazon language should be live shortly); and working diligently on improved formulations, as well as implementing regular batch-specific quality measures and checks to improve the reliability of his products under a wider set of conditions and scenarios.
I have recently tested numerous samples with the Scitus product, comparing the results side-by-side with those from my own confirmed quantitative test results using an XRF instrument, and can say with confidence that the Scitus product is the BEST AVAILABLE REACTIVE-AGENT OPTION on the market today for testing for LEAD in HOUSE PAINT.
- The other brands and knock-off testing swabs (all the other similar testing swabs being sold on Amazon today) ARE NOT USEFUL for testing house paint (or consumer goods — regardless of whatever the false advertising claims on their packaging may assert!).
- This is because other brands and unbranded knock-offs ALL have very imprecise formulations that can give false positives on things as innocuous as printer paper — and even the water you dip the knock-off swabs in to “activate” them!
- As a fun little experiment, we used one of the knock-off swabs to test the paper label on the package it came in and it tested “positive” [falsely] for Lead!
One more time, for the folks in the back: THERE ARE STILL NO RELIABLE “HOME TEST KITS” FOR TESTING FOR LEAD IN CONSUMER GOODS! (I really cannot say this often enough!)
So how can I test my consumer goods for Lead, then?
Sending your things to a lab to have them accurately and thoroughly tested for Lead can cost $70.00 to $300.00 per item (or even more depending on the complexity of the item and the testing methodology used.) Some of these testing methodologies need to also actually destroy the item in order to generate meaningful quantitative test results.
Conversely, this website (LeadSafeMama.com / TamaraRubin.com) is FREE to access (not behind a paywall!), and is the best place to start if you have concerns for a specific consumer good having possible Lead content. You can look things up and compare test results for items of the same vintage (made of the same materials), from the same manufacturer, and with the same or similar coatings. If your exact item is not there, but there is something similar, you can extrapolate the results from the similar items on my website.
As an example of this last aspect, I will share one inquiry we had earlier today … A vintage brown glass loaf pan (again, glass — painted or unpainted — cannot be reliably tested with any home test kit). On the Lead Safe Mama website you can look up
-
-
- “vintage glass,”
- “brown glass,”
- “amber glass,”
- “fireking,”
- “fire king,” or
- “anchor hocking,”
- and “loaf pan.”
- Type in each word separately to the search bar at the top of any page of the site to find similar examples — and to find modern, Lead-free alternatives.
-
It’s not complicated, once you learn your way around the website. You will almost always find useful information searching in this way as I have tested and reported on thousands of examples of products – including examples of almost every category/type of item imaginable!
More projects in the works…
- Eric / Scitus is currently also working on developing a truly exciting new product — based on COMPLETELY NEW TECHNOLOGY. Based on the science, and his own R&D — he expects this new technology (which I have seen demonstrated already) should work reliably and accurately for detecting Lead in many consumer goods and that it will be similarly inexpensive, so please do stand by for that!
- Eric is also working on creating new packaging for his products to sell in larger quantities (more tests in package), for even better economy.
- We are also (separately) in the early phases of discussion regarding collaborating on setting up affordable(subsidized) lab testing for consumers (following the same consumer-directed model we have always used here at Lead Safe Mama, LLC) — to test food and supplement products (like salt, prenatal vitamins, etc.!).
And so, to recap:
If you want to test the paint in your home, please only purchase the genuine carefully formulated/ batch-tested/ American-made products by Scitus: https://amzn.to/3PaO1ON (affiliate link). DO NOT purchase any of the imported knock-offs (which give very high rates of false-positives and false-negatives due to poor product formulation)!
IMPORTANT NOTES
(see image below):
- The knock-offs have a yellow-orange swab tip (almost a little pinkish / redish — even BEFORE activation, in some cases!).
- The genuine Scitus product has a white/gray swab tip.
- ———
- The knock-offs have a yellowish stick (it looks like their testing solution has “spilled” all over the stick).
- The genuine Scitus product has a natural wood/ lighter stick.
- ———
- The knock-offs are “activated” with water and often start turning pink before you even touch them to anything (so people have contacted me because they thought their water tested positive for Lead – somehow detected with these kits (which is not even possible, given the low threshold of detection for water is a different order of magnitude! [ppb vs. ppm]).
- The Scitus swabs are activated with white vinegar. They turn yellowish when activated and then turn pink-to-purple-to-dark-purple/brown when in contact with high-Lead paint (when used as directed, following the instructions in the packaging.)
And I will say this one more time for good measure: there are currently NO reliable home test kits for testing for Lead in consumer goods. The Scitus product is the best currently available product for consumers to test for Lead in the paint on their homes. Please always follow the instructions when using.
PLEASE let me know if this all makes sense to you, and/or if you have any questions. I am so thrilled to be partnering with Scitus to bring better (affordable/effective) Lead-testing tools directly to-consumers. I love working with companies that are ethical, transparent, and willing to make changes to improve their products!
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of our affiliate links, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a percentage of what you spend — at no extra cost to you.
Lead Safe Mama Collaborations With Scitus to Date:
Scitus is so committed to the cause that they are going out of their way to support the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC in every way they can. So far, Scitus has supported our work in the following ways:
- Scitus hired Lead Safe Mama, LLC for a phone consult to discuss the issues with their product.
- Scitus hired Lead Safe Mama, LLC to help rework the language on the packaging and online listings for their products.
- Scitus helped cover a significant portion of the costs of Lead Safe Mama, LLC’s New York City Subway PSA Campaign about Lead in consumer goods.
- Scitus has come on board as a newsletter sponsor for the Lead Safe Mama, LLC e-mail newsletter (to help us cover costs directly related to the newsletter hosting/sending, drafting, and editing of our content).
- Scitus has sponsored the production of a new three-part segment for our “Ten Minutes With Tamara” YouTube Series.
- Scitus purchased a new laptop computer for Lead Safe Mama, LLC to help support our work (because our main computer was failing!).
- Scitus hired Lead Safe Mama, LLC to create draft content for info sheet graphics about household items commonly contaminated with Lead.
- More to come!
Wow, this is all so exciting and wonderful to hear! A company like this is so valuable. Looking forward to hearing more about home goods and vitamin/supplement testing.
Have you done any comparative tests on LeadCheck, Scitus, and knock-offs to compare their performance? If not, I will test things that cause false positives, e.g. copper, tungsten. When I have done this will you publish the results on your web pages?
I have done tests and made several videos – to be published shortly.
Brilliant. I look forward to seeing the videos.
Tim
Ok good, I’ve been wanting to test more paint but haven’t been able to get 3M, now I know why! Scitus is what I originally bought to test my house before I knew about 3M, and when I double checked with the 3M swabs I got the same results, no false +\-.
Brilliant! So excited about this partnership. Hats off the both of you for your dedication and hard work.
Thank you!
Thank you for helping to facilitate a new release from Scitus! I purchased those swabs more than a year ago and understood you to indicate in a prior post that the owner was changing labeling that read “Detects lead on painted wood, metal, vinyl & plastic, drywall & plaster.” Using your link and searching “Titus lead swabs” both STILL lead to Amazon page with the very same label that mislead me to believe this product could be used to check plastics. If this product can ONLY be used to check HOUSE PAINT the label should state precisely that.
Wasn’t that almost a year ago? “Detects lead in paint only.” “Detects lead in painted surfaces only.” “Detects lead in paints covering these surfaces: wood, metal, vinyl, plastic, drywall & plaster.” GEEZ, Mr. Ethical N. Transparent, get the lead out!
Hi BJ – Eric and I first connected in March. I shared that he was working on changing the language starting in April (April 9th) – so just five months ago. He got the final language in June and is currently working on printing new packaging. Some of the new language populated to his Amazon listing yesterday – but apparently they (Amazon) makes you jump through hoops to get new language through and they only approved some of his changes so far. He’s also going to be doing a second revision for Amazon and the new packaging should be with the next run of product – when you purchase through Amazon (which has a warehouse system) they had been selling product warehoused in March.
This is the new language that is up on Amazon right now:
“Use Scitus Lead Testing Swabs to find lead on house paint, our swabs offer the most economical, scientifically formulated home chemical lead testing solution available on the market today.
This product is designed for use on house paint; it is not designed for use on non-painted surfaces – including ceramics and enamels (pottery, china, stoneware, dishware, tiles, bath tubs, etc.).
As with all tests similar to this one, if testing a metallic surface there will be a positive looking reaction if zinc is present.
If testing a metal surface when using our kits, dip the swab tip in lemon juice for 10 minutes post test to rule out false positives for zinc or other metals.
Our facility manufactures these tests to ensure superior reliability and quality, we are located within the continental United States of America.”
The US version seems to be sold out..the UK one is not …Is this the same item? It looks the same, but I wanted to check .
Ps ..please do affiliate items on UK amazon …I purchase a lot when I can find them and you don’t get a penny as its not through your link
I just ordered some in the US 9/15/23. Maybe try again.
Great work. Just ordered some today to test only house paint. Now if only there were a way to have a reliable home test for some other surfaces of items at home (since 3m is no longer available.) I’m sure the answer is going to be over my head, but I’ll ask anyways: What is the difference in the tests that made 3M home tests able to be used on some home product surfaces vs. these Scitus cannot? The sensitivity? Or something much different? Thanks for all the hard work Tamara!