Lead detectors are being used in medical settings to identify drug use and drug overdoses.
But the lead-free devices often have an adverse side effect: the high lead content makes them more difficult to use in forensic settings.
The new Lead-Free Electron Configuration (LFCE) from LeadCure is designed to avoid these problems and is the first lead-safe device to have been made by a startup, according to lead lead developer Dr. Michael Smith.
In a statement, the company said it is “proud to have pioneered lead-felted forensic lead identification with LeadCURE,” and that it is working with the FDA to make it more widely available.
“Led detectors are currently in use in a small number of police departments across the United States, where lead is the principal component of blood lead levels,” the company added.
“In addition, the FDA has been working on the FDA’s National Lead Standard (LFS), which will establish guidelines to protect the public against lead exposure in forensic forensic settings.”
This is a very exciting time for forensic lead detection, said Dr. Smith.
“Lead has been a major contributor to the growth of the forensic field, but the prevalence of lead in our environment has made it an extremely difficult and challenging issue to address,” he said.
He continued, “Lead-free forensic lead analysis devices are being developed at a rapid pace, and we are confident that lead-based forensic lead systems will be the most successful products in forensic lead testing in the next decade.”
LeadCure also recently announced a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to launch an additional 10,000 lead-resistant lead detectors, and has said that it plans to sell more lead-sheltered devices in the future.
As for the company’s future, Smith said that they have “several opportunities in the space,” and added that the company has also been working with other forensic lead suppliers to help them manufacture and sell their lead-resistance devices.
Lead-frozen forensic lead devices are currently the only option for lead detection in the U.S., and lead is not considered an essential component of a blood lead level, according the CDC.
Smith added that lead is a “major component” of a drug’s toxicity, and that “we will continue to work towards finding the best path forward” to address lead-laden forensic lead-testing.
If you or anyone you know needs help or assistance, please call LeadCue’s lead-tolerant forensic lead program at 1-800-841-2271.
