EPA has been informed that, as of October 2023, 3M has suspended the production and sale of 3M™ LeadCheck™ test kits. Existing LeadCheck™ test kits that have not expired will continue to be recognized by EPA despite expected limited availability after October 2023. For more information on 3M™ LeadCheck™ test kits, call 800-494-3552 or visit the 3M™ webpage. EPA is committed to working with renovators in the wake of this announcement. EPA will recognize new test kits that meet both the negative response and positive response criteria outlined in 40 CFR 745.88(c)(1) and (2). In addition, EPA will continue to recognize the 3M™ LeadCheck™ test kit, or any already recognized test kit, should it be transferred to another entity, provided that the formulation does not change and no new test kit that meets both response criteria is recognized. View frequently asked questions about test kits below.

Read the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lead test kit laboratory evaluation report. Also read the 3M™ LeadCheck™ laboratory evaluation report (PDF).

In response to the announcement that 3M will cease production of the LeadCheck test kit, EIA intends to test a number of alternative lead test kits at our Fall Technical Conference in San Diego, CA  on October 27. EIA will set up an independent, non-scientific demonstration to test available lead test kits on different paints and substrates and compare the kit results with results from an XRF device.