I was wondering how many clinics are using the Ultra Low Total Chlorine Test Strips, and what is your level of satisfaction with these strips? I have been using the Pocket Colorimeter/HACH and it seems I've been getting higher results for Total Chlorine than with the RPC ultra low total chlorine test strips. I have accounted for interference with my colorimeter, and test for manganese accordingly.

We switched over from the Hi Sense Serum to the RPC Test Strip back in late August.
We were getting crazy false positives with the POS Colorimeter, so test strips is the way we go.
I like these strips MUCH better then the other ones we've used. I haven't had a problem with them, but I know a guy who after bleach verified with the strips then used the DPD #4 Tablet (Just for S-n-giggles) and the chlorine was off the charts.

I agree with Dr. Machine. I like them MUCH better

We've been using the ultra low strips for months. They work well and everyone likes 'em.

Not having to do that Validation Test prior to use of the Serim Strips was a win/win for all!

I personally do not like the strips. I trust my Hach colorimeter more than my eyes.

Thank you for your replies. I understand your sentiments North. A beam of light seems irrefutable, however, I'm not sure of the DPD reagent that is added, if it reacts with extraneous substances, otherwise known as interference, and creates a higher reading. All I seek is accuracy.

Your results are much more accurate with the colorimeter than any test strip on the market.

Love the strips. We used to rebed once every 5 years, we started the colorimeter in Feb- due to high results we rebedded 3 times in 4 months. Sent in water results- found out we had interferance- switched to the strips- no problems since then. If you don't have interference, colorimeter is great. Unfortunaltely, it gave us nothing but problems. We still use the colorimeter to check our RO- usually runs at 0.00 or 0.01. We use the srtips for the post worker.

Both are useful. I use the colorimeter as the primary, and the strips as a backup. The digital readout takes out any guess work. But, if I had problems with interference, I'd probably be using the strips as primary.

Since they stopped acknowledging the DPD #4 tablets, its strange they would then allow for the CRUSHED DPD #4 tablets that your using for the Colorimeter.
Strange, someone mentioned they use the Colorimeter to check the RO? WHY? You can streamline your tests so your just using the strips for all the ports. Seems like extra work with the spec check calibration and documentation just for one point. (Just my opinion)

I agree about the extra work for the spec checks, however, this is a policy from Fresenius. Fresenius (at my clinic) would rather we use the colorimeter for the post worker and RO (which is a safety check for 1st shift only). But if we confirmed we had interferance in our water we were allowed to use strips for the post worker. But we still have to check the RO with the colorimeter. I don't make the rules, I just follow them.

^and so you are. We got clearance to do it that way, all you have to do is ask up the right channels.