3M Lead Check Swab Disposable Lead Test Kit

The swab stayed orange but the test card did not.

Some of our main bathroom wall is cracked severely from a vanity install a contractor did in the master bathroom sharing the same wall. Knowing our house was built in 1960 immediately concerned me for the safety of our children and their potential exposure to lead paint. The previous owner we bought the house from insisted there was no lead paint in the house as that was one of the selling points. And he even showed us an old brochure which did list no lead paint as a selling point for the house...

Lead Check Swabs

This is one of only 2 Lead Tests that the EPA has approved for use as a Lead Renovator. These swabs are easy to use and fairly accurate. Our business uses them and they have proven to be very useful. Hopefully 3M decides NOT to keep the production of these suspended.

Did not work

Very disappointed. I watched the video couple of times. Cut a V shape small area on the painted wall, crushed A and B, shaked, Liquid came out, rubbed it on the wall, it was yellow/Orange on the wall and the test confirmation card too. Second was almost dry, very little liquid came out, same result wall and the test confirmation Card were both yellow/orange color. Very disappointed. I drove about an hour today to pick it up from Lowe’s.

Delayed/Confusing Results

Tested this on a door frame and windowsill. The test came back negative on both sticks, turning a dirty brownish orange. It also left a bit of the liquid from the applicator on the sill and frame in the process. I let it sit on the sill as I couldn't believe a house built in 1890 didn't have lead paint, especially around the window, but hey maybe the trim wasn't painted until 100 years later. Went back after a few days and the dried liquid had turned from brownish-orange to pinkish-red, most...

Bad swabs

It was a dud on both tests. Glad they have the test strip to see if it is a dud but yes both test swabs did not react to my item and didn't react to the test strip with lead in it. So I still don't know if my item has lead in it.

Does not work

I bought a two pack and was not able to use either swab. The liquid did not go into the swab completely and did not work on the test circles. I wonder whether these swabs are subject to age. This is one of the few EPA recommended lead tests, but given their price I feel they should be more reliable. I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I'm hesitant to buy another set when the first two I tried didn't work.

Waste of money

Difficult to squeeze to break glass vial and liquid NEVER moved to swab. Got to double check and older method which showed no lead in a painted dresser. Was useless purchase and an expensive one at that. Now will look on line if there is a different brand. Hope so as 3M is BIG rip off and should be ashamed. Don't even bother to include customer service number. That should have been my tip off that this was an inferior product and should passed. The only 800# was for Safety Data Sheet ie OSHA req...

Difficult to Conclude the Color Result

I bought and used both tests included in the package on my front porch, which had been painted many years ago. The directions say that if a pink or red color appears, then lead is present. The problem is that the liquid used to perform the tests is colored orange. The results of both of my tests were a dark orange. Although it appears that I have no lead present, I do not have peace of mind because it is so difficult to tell orange from red. Therefore, I am going to purchase a different lead pai...

Clear and effective, but a little pricey

Fast and clear lead test, although the price is pretty steep. Readily available in most stores. To maximize your value, consider testing multiple (clean) surfaces in order from least likely to most likely to be lead paint as product turns color upon contact with lead paint.

Good but delayed results

I purchased this instant lead test to test paint on an old mantel I had intended on refinishing but the results were not instant but delayed by about 2 hours. It actually never showed pink or red on the test applicator but I accidentally spilled some on the white painted mantel and when I looked at it a couple of hours later I noticed a bright pink drip in the area of the mantel where I tested. I wasn't sure if that was a positive lead result so I called the manufacturer and the nice lady I talk...