On September 26, 2024, 3M company announced the sale of the formulation and trademarks for LeadCheck swabs. Production and sale of these market-leading swabs for RRP projects was suspended in September of 2023. As a part of that announcement, 3M introduced the purchaser, Luxfer Magtech, Inc. As soon as the announcement was received, EIA reached out to Luxfer Magtech, encouraging them to make a presentation at EIA’s Fall Technical Conference in Jacksonville, FL on October 4, 2024.

Luxfer Magtech joined the EIA Fall Technical Conference and made an insightful presentation to all attendees about the plans to bring LeadCheck swabs back to market after a hiatus of more than one year.

EIA members will remember that our organization conducted a non-scientific, side-by-side comparison of instant lead test kits at the 2023 Fall Technical Conference immediately after 3M’s announcement that production and distribution of the kits would cease in September of 2023. A copy of EIA’s report of this side-by-side testing can be found here. When EIA became aware that LeadCheck swabs were no longer going to be produced, the association was immediately concerned about the ramifications to contractors performing RRP work throughout the USA. Undoubtedly, 3M’s LeadCheck swabs held a market share of instant lead testing kits that exceeded 80%. Essentially, this decision by 3M left RRP contractors with no other option than sending samples of lead paint to a laboratory for analysis after any stock of LeadCheck swabs was consumed. EPA joined the 2023 EIA Fall Technical Conference to discuss the decision by 3M and to answer questions about any response on behalf of the agency. In short, EPA did not offer any solutions that would avoid sending samples to a laboratory.

Luxfer Magtech, as it turns out, has been manufacturing LeadCheck swabs under contract for 3M and Hybrivet Systems, Inc. (who was purchased by 3M in 2011) since the swabs were first invented. Luxfer Magtech is a globally recognized business that specializes in developing, manufacturing and supplying a broad range of products that safeguard and protect, including chemical response kits designed to safeguard life in chemical warfare attacks and nutritious food and beverage options for militaries and first responders.

During Luxfer Magtech’s presentation to EIA at the Fall Technical Conference on October 4, the Luxfer team made it clear that they were eager to learn more about the RRP market and the regulators overseeing lead-safe work practices. Luxfer had previously had no “consumer contact,” since the company only manufactured the product. In fact, almost all of Luxfer Magtech’s product offerings are not to consumers, but to the government or other entities that sell the products to government and quasi-government agencies.

EIA immediately offered to make an introduction between HUD and Luxfer Magtech, since EIA has enjoyed a close and fruitful relationship with the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. This introductory meeting took place on October 31, 2024. During the meeting, Luxfer Magtech was able to introduce their company and capabilities to the HUD team. Both organizations were able to ask questions of the other, resulting in a highly successful and informative meeting.

Luxfer Magtech promises that sale and distribution of LeadCheck swabs will begin in January of 2025. The company will begin taking orders in December of 2024.

EPA has updated its website to reference the Luxfer Magtech LeadCheck™ test kits. Here is the link: https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-test-kits