Are lead test kits a good way to determine if the paint in my home contains lead?
DSHS believes that lead test kits, sometimes available at home improvement stores and other sources, can be useful to determine if there is lead in your paint; however, the kits have limitations as they can only give you a positive or negative result – they cannot tell you the amount of lead that is present. Test kits can also give false negatives and false positives, especially if used improperly. As a result, if a lead abatement is to be conducted, or you need a legal statement confirming the presence or absence of lead-based paint, you must have a certified lead inspector or lead risk assessor conduct a lead inspection on your home. There are only two ways that these certified lead professionals can conduct lead inspections: 1) paint-chip collection and having the samples analyzed by an EPA-recognized laboratory; or through 2) X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detection. To find out who is certified by DSHS, check the certified Lead Inspectors and Lead Risk Assessors list webpage or contact
