Salifert Test Kit Users Needed!

[beth]

Ok, the Shark has to ask a stupid question. I just switched over to Salifert test kits and some of those kits instructions for reading the results is just beyond me!
Like what does this mean [following completing the test]: "Hold the syringe with the tip facing upward and raed the position of the , now the upper end , of the black part of the piston."
Anyone who can help me out, I'd appreciate it!

 

[q]

You are looking at how much fluid you used to get the color to change. Start by adding fluid when the 1 ml syringe is full and bottom of the stopper is on the 1 ml mark. If you invert the syringe then the directions mean to read the bottom of the rubber stopper ( the end closest to the needle). Since it is inverted if they say to read the bottom then your reading will be off as you may add the width of the rubber to the amount of fluid you displaced.
I got my kits the other day and had to read it a couple of times myself so I hope I explained it well enough.
[ December 24, 2001: Message edited by: Q ]

 

[beth]

LOL...ok, I'm dense! I still don't conceptually get it. There is a bit of air in the area between the black part of the syringe piston and the fluid, but the fluid does not change when you hold the syringe up...its vaccum packed in there I guess. And there is fluid in the long nosed tip of the syringe, which goes beyond the measurements of the syringe.
LOL....I need details here before I can get how to read this. Any more help will be apprecieated.

 

[burnnspy]

Beth, Beth, Beth, the instructions tell you that the air bubble is to be ignored because it is taken into account on the chart.
Just read where the rubber stops.
It take practice to get it right anyway, good luck.
BurnNSpy

 

[beth]

So your reading is the at the bottom of the black rubber piston? After all those complicated instruction, that sounds too easy!