Industrial Test Systems Quick 481396-5 Arsenic for Water Quality Testing, 5 Tests, 12 Minutes Test Time

As described, easy to use.

Used to test for arsenic after a R.O system was installed. Was not to complicated to use and worked as advertised.

Here's how it works, which should answer most questions. Of course, read and follow the instructions for exact info.You need a Sample of whatever you want to test. For dry things, like wood chips, dirt, food, dried paint, etc. you will need about a spoonful. For liquid, like water, juice, coffee, etc. you will need a couple ounces. The color of your sample will not affect the test.You put your Sample in a small bottle (included) and add three chemicals (also included). Those three chemicals are not very toxic.The stuff in the sample bottle will bubble and make a gas. You put another cap on the bottle (looks like a regular lotion bottle cap) and stick the Test Strip in the hole. The gas changes the colors on the Test Strip. Then you look at the colors to decide if your stuff has arsenic.The Test Strips do contain mercuric bromide, which is toxic. After use, they need to go to a hazardous waste facility in most states. You can simply put the used strips in a ziploc bag, label it, and take to your local facility.The testing process generates arsine gas, which is extremely toxic. The test must be done outside. But the test also needs to be done where there is no wind.You need good nitrile gloves and eye protection. A proper fitting disposable respirator mask (N95 / N100) would be good to use also, for the three powdered chemicals; they are mostly irritants.Does the test work? Yes. Make sure there is ZERO wind. Make sure the temperature is correct. Don't place it in the sun - this will ruin your Test Strip.Note that this kit is best for basic testing, like dirt and treated wood - for drinking water, you want the Low Range or Ultra Low Range test.

This is a good test kit but you have to follow the instructions diligently to get a good result. The water temperature needs to be about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take a little. You can heat the water sample in a microwave oven for a few seconds, if necessary. But it's easy to overheat the sample which will throw off the result. A digital thermometer is a handy thing to have for this kind of testing.The test strips contain mercury and the test generates arsine gas, so you have to test in a well ventilated area, and dispose of the test strips through your municipal toxic waste service (there may be a way to mail the used strips to a toxics handler).This test is for measuring arsenic concentrations between 0 ppb and 600 ppb (i.e. 0 to 600 micrograms per liter). The gradations are fairly coarse in this test. The same company also sells a different edition of the test with a lower range: kit # 481297-5, designed to test 0 to 300 ppb. The low-range test might give you a more accurate measurement -- especially if there is a low level of arsenic in your water. But the low-range kit is twice as expensive.There's even an ultra low-range kit, # 481300, designed to detect between 0 and 20 ppb. This would be the best kit for drinking water testing (there is no safe limit for arsenic in drinking water, despite the EPAs claim that under 10 ppb is safe). But this kit costs over $300.The only viable options I've seen other than these kits is to pay a certified lab (approximately $50 per test).

Ok, it works, mostly.One of my packets of #3 reagent was nearly empty, though - so I lost one of the tests through no fault of my own. Results in the bottom ranges are very difficult to read without great eyes and lighting - and that's where the kit needs to be explicit if it is to be worthwhile in testing water.Be prepared to do a little time and temperature dependent chemistry. The chemicals are toxic, rubber gloves are a good idea, and don't do this indoors especially near food prep areas etc. Avoid windy area to test, too - as the reagents are dusty.Tough to get right the first time, the instructions are not the best, either. Rehearse the routine before actually doing it.I WISH the instructions had read as follows, hope this helps:Temperatures must be from 72-84 degrees F. to begin.Good lighting is needed to run the test.Prepare Sample(s) in amount of 100ml+ if needed.H2S has a half life of 8 hrs – age contaminated samples 72 to 96 hrs.You will want goggles and rubber gloves.All equipment needs to be dry, white cap totally so.Set out a packet of powder 1, 2, 3 reagent (might not be labeled that way - see instructions for alternate names and labelings) and test strip for each test to be run.Place color chart nearby, and something to nip off the end of the packets as needed when the time comes.Set up an accurate timer.Fill sample bottle to midpoint (highest line).Use yellow cap for the following:Add #1, shake 15 seconds. Add #2, shake 15 seconds.Time 2 minutes, meanwhile open foil pack and without touching the square bit at the end of the strip, place strip in open white cap with line showing on top next to cap and white pad hanging down into cap. Close the cap lid and set aside on a clean surface.When 2 minutes is complete - Add #3, shake 5 seconds, wipe any moisture from thread top of bottle and then cap with the prepared white cap NOT letting it get wet.Time 10 to 12 minutes, no more or less.Uncap, remove white strip and immediately (30 second limit) compare it to color chart to determine inorganic arsenic content.Record result.Dump sample safely away from food prep areas, and rinse bottle and yellow cap with clean water and shake dry. At the end, air dry bottle and yellow cap – do not allow zinc to build up or it will stick to the bottle and be next to impossible to get rid of without sacrificing a bottle brush.-Good Luck-

In the past I have used a professional test lab to provide water quality testing. In many years I have only rarely detected a slight presence of arsenic in our well water, and this test seems to be simpler and cheaper than taking a sample to a test lab.