FSTest Heavy Metal Pb Rapid Test Strip (10 Tests)

Product Overview

The FSTest™ Heavy Metal Pb Rapid Test Strip is a professional-grade, immuno-chromatographic assay designed for the fast, qualitative screening of heavy metal lead (Pb) contamination. This kit provides dairy processors, water treatment facilities, and food safety inspection labs with a streamlined method to audit sample purity and ensure adherence to safety standards.

Engineered for testing milk, milk products, and drinking water, the kit effectively flags lead levels below or above regulatory limits, serving as an ideal first-line defense in food safety quality control programs.

Product Highlights & Key Benefits

· Swift Screening in Minutes: Complete the entire assay within 5 to 8 minutes after a simple sample preparation, significantly cutting down lab waiting times.

· Tailored High-Sensitivity Limits: Features optimized cut-offs depending on your unique matrix: Drinking Water (0.005 mg/L), Raw/Pasteurized Milk (0.02 mg/kg), Prepared/Fermented Milk (0.04 mg/kg), and Other Dairy Products (0.2 mg/kg).

· Complete All-in-One Kit: Arrives fully packed with all necessary items—test strips, microwells, specialized reagents (A & B), a chelating agent, diluent, and centrifuge tubes.

· Inverse Colorimetric Readout: Simple and reliable visualization. When lead is present, the Test line (T) fades or disappears due to competitive inhibition, making it easy to see positive samples without complex readers.

· Stable Temperature Tolerance: The reaction performs reliably across a broad room temperature range of 20–40°C.

Technical Principle: Competitive Inhibition

The test is based on a competitive lateral flow immunochromatographic assay. The strip features a built-in Control (C) line and a Test (T) line, both of which are invisible before fluidics activation.

Free Lead Ions (Pb) + Antibody-Conjugates → Lateral Flow → Inhibition of Binding at T-Line → Faded or Absent T-Line

When a sample is loaded, the liquid flows laterally upward across the strip. If the sample contains target levels of heavy metal lead (Pb), the lead ions bind to the antibodies and inhibit them from reacting with the pre-coated recombinant antigens on the T-line, causing the T-line to appear significantly lighter than the C-line (or disappear entirely). Conversely, in a negative sample, the T-line binds fully and shows a strong, visible color band.

Matrix-Specific Detection Limits

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Sample Preparation (Extraction)

· Pipette 50 µL of your liquid sample into a 1.5 mL centrifuge tube.

· Add 350 µL of Heavy Metal Pb Reagent A and 10 µL of Heavy Metal Pb Chelating Agent. Cap tightly and vortex for 10 seconds to mix.

· Add 100 µL of Heavy Metal Pb Reagent B and 100 µL of Heavy Metal Pb Diluent Solution. Cap tightly and vortex for another 10 seconds.

· Final Prep by Sample Type:
• Drinking water/raw/pasteurized/sterilized milk: Ready to test immediately.
• Prepared/fermented milk: Transfer 100 µL of mixture into a new tube, add 100 µL of diluent, and vortex.
• Other dairy products: Transfer 100 µL of mixture into a new tube, add 900 µL of diluent, and vortex.

2. Running the Assay

· Pipette 120 µL of the prepared sample into a reagent-coated microwell. Mix slowly but thoroughly using the pipette tip, then incubate at room temperature (20-40°C) for 3 minutes.

· Insert the test strip into the microwell and start timing.

· Read the visual lines within the 5 to 8 minute window. Do not read after 10 minutes, as late reactions become invalid.

Results Determination & Action Guide

· Negative (-): The Test line (T) is strong and equal to or darker than the Control line (C). This indicates lead levels are safely below the limit of detection.

· Positive (+): The Test line (T) is visibly lighter than the Control line (C), or completely invisible. This indicates the presence of heavy metal lead (Pb) at or above the detection limit.

· Invalid: The Control line (C) fails to appear. This indicates the test was not performed correctly or the strip was compromised. Repeat the assay with a new strip.

Crucial Safety & Handling Precautions

· This kit provides qualitative detection ONLY and is meant for preliminary screening. It is not suitable for determining exact quantitative concentrations. Confirmatory analytical methods should be used to verify any positive findings.

· Never touch the exposed white reaction area in the middle of the test strip. Always handle the strip by the marked handheld top end.

· Inspect the strip packaging before opening. If the container tube is cracked or damaged, the strips may have absorbed moisture from the air, compromising accuracy.

· All strips and microwells are strictly single-use. Ensure you run the test within the stamped validity period.

Storage & Packing Specifications

· 10 tests per box.

· Storage Environment:Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place between 4–30°C. Do not freeze.

· Shelf Life:12 months under proper storage conditions.