Consumers Union evaluates home lead test kits

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The nonprofit Consumers Union recently put five home lead-testing kits to the test and deemed three useful, though limited, as a screening tool for consumers worried about lead contamination in products in and around their home.

According to the group's Consumer Reports magazine, the three tests garnering a passing grade are Homax Lead Check, Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, and Lead Inspector.

These test kits detect surface or "accessible" lead but not lead embedded below the surface, according to a statement from Consumer Reports.

The Homax Lead Check, which retails for $8 and the Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, which sells for $18.45, were the easiest to use, according to Consumer Reports, and the kits identified surface lead in toys, ceramic, dishware, and vinyl or plastic.

These two kits consist of cigarette-shaped swabs that turn pink when they detect lead. If lead concentrations are low, these swabs may take up to 2 hours to turn pink; high lead levels yield immediate results.

According to Consumer Reports, the Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, which contains eight swabs is a better bargain than the Homax Lead Check, which contains only two swabs.

The Lead Inspector test kit, which also got a passing grade, retails for $13. It contains 8 swabs that turn yellow, brown, gray or black if lead is present.

The two test kits that did not make the grade are the First Alert kit, which indicated some false positive results, and the Pro-Lab Lead Surface kit, which was less sensitive and more difficult to use than the others.

"Manufacturers and the government need to strengthen their efforts to eliminate lead in the marketplace," said Donald Mays, Consumer Reports senior director for product safety. "In the meantime, consumers need a way to assess the safety of products in their homes, and lead test kits are a useful though limited screening tool."

The Consumers Union advises wearing gloves and having good ventilation when using lead test kits and removing from the home any item that tests positive.