lead test

Portable Lab Detects Toxic Metals in Blood

A cheap and small detector could make lead poisoning a thing of the past

Portable Toxin Tester: Photo by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a fast, portable lab that can detect toxic levels of lead and other heavy metals in samples of blood, urine or even saliva. The battery-powered device, which is about the size of a fishing tackle box, should reportedly cost just a tenth of today’s bulkier systems. And it’s fast: Instead of sending samples off to a lab, and waiting for the results, everything can be done on-site. After a simple finger prick, results follow within two to five minutes.

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