in this video we want to do a product review for the blue green test, a rapid test to
detect presence of toxins from blue-green algae. This test is available through Amazon
and distributed by a company called 5 Strands. Hi guys, it's Bee with Modern Canine
and if you follow our channel then you know we love kayaking and boating with our dogs
and we also hike around rivers and lakes in the summer. Letting the dogs swim is always
fun and Apollo and Heidi really love it. There have been a lot of scares lately
regarding blue-green algae and we saw several lakes with warning signs and also reports
of pets dying from the exposure to the toxin. If you haven't heard of the dangers of blue-green
algae I highly recommend you research the topic. When dogs come into contact with the blue-green
algae they can die within 30 minutes of exposure! We have been more and more concerned about
letting our dogs play in the water while hiking and camping.
I usually do a lot of research and check with local authorities about water conditions
prior to going on hikes, but so many states don't have enough resources to test all their lakes and
rivers on a regular basis. I have been searching for a way to self-test for blue-green algae.
Recently I came across this test on Amazon. It's made by a company called 5strands
and it was developed by a university in Finland. We've been using the test on several occasions
and I want to share my honest opinion with you in this video.
I will show you how we use the test in real life situations.
Make sure that you watch all the way to the end of the video as I will
also be sharing some quick tips I have gotten from local authorities that can help you
assess waters for blue-green algae blooms. So this here is the test kit we received
from 5strands. It pretty much comes with everything needed for the test.
The test kit includes the test cassette, a sample jar, disposable pipette, and disposable gloves.
Additionally you'll need a sample container to collect a sample of the test water. The
instructions included in the test say large bucket but I seldom have room to carry a bucket on my
hikes. I decided to use a large gallon size Ziploc bag. I find not only was this large enough to hold
the test water to submerge the sample jar, but it is also very handy to collect all the materials
after the test is finished and to help me safely carry out the waste. I highly recommend that you
familiarize yourself with performing this test at home prior to using it on a hike or while camping.
Although the instructions are very well written and clearly explain every step
of the test process, using the test for the first time was a little scary.
There are several warnings in the instructions that made me a little nervous at first.
After using the test once, I was actually pretty comfortable with it.
So here is a test that we did at a local lake
I always look for a flat surface to set up my test kit. The cardboard packaging has a punch out hole
that will serve as a stand for the sample jar. Since the packaging is rather lightweight I
usually put a rock into the packet so that it can't be blown over by the wind.
Next I get all the test kit items out of the first pouch. This one contains the sample jar,
the pipette, and the disposable gloves. I use the gallon size Ziploc bag to collect the water.
Per instructions, the sample jar has to be submerged into the water at a 45 degree angle.
It's supposed to stay submerged for 15 seconds.
The hole in the middle of the jaw needs to be full of water before I can take it out
Once I take the sample jaw out of the water, I immediately put it into the hole of the test kit.
The instructions say that the chemical reaction starts in approximately five minutes, however,
I have found that the reaction starts almost immediately
and the warning signs say that once the reaction starts the sample jar gets hot,
so I make sure to not waste time and to get my hands off that jar very quickly.
You can see it starts to bubble and smoke. Again the test instructions warn that you should not
inhale any of the smoke, so I just step upwind and away from the test kit.
The test needs to run 15 minutes. After this time the bubbling and the smoke should subside.
So here's the test cassette. I place it next to the sample jar and with the pipette take
water from the middle of the sample jar. It takes only three drops into the smaller
hole of the test cassette. Now it takes a few minutes for the water to draw into the test area.
Here you can see the test is clear: only one line at the C mark.
In comparison, here is another test we did a few days back at a different lake. This was a positive
result with the line at the C and the line at the T. This means toxins are present in the water.
If for some reason you do not get any lines on your test kit, then your test is invalid.
Once I'm done with the test, I use the Ziploc bag to collect all the trash
and carry it out with me. I'm very careful not to let any of the sample jar water get onto my hands
as it contains chemicals that can harm your skin.
I make sure the Ziploc bag is sealed tightly before putting it into my backpack!
I was a little confused at first about the instructions on how to properly dispose of
the trash, since in the instructions it says the test and all other materials are energy waste.
I wasn't sure what that meant. Should they go into a special trash area? I contacted 5strands
and was told that the entire test kit, once used, can be disposed of as regular trash.
So as you can see the entire test process takes about 25 minutes.
As I mentioned in the beginning of the video, I was a little uneasy at first with the test
but now that I've used it I will say it's super easy to use.
You just have to be sure to follow the instructions outlined in the test kit and
be sure not to touch the hot sample jar during the test or let any of the chemicals touch your skin.
okay as promised in the introduction here are a few things that you can do
quickly to assess waters even if you don't have a 5strands test kit with you.
When you come up to a body of water there are a few things that are first
indicators of possible blue algae bloom. number one: the water has a foul smell
number two: the water looks discolored,
has greenish foam or scum, or mats of algae floating on the surface.
and number three: the water has paint-like streaks in it
If I see any of these signs I will not allow my dogs near the water!
the 5 stands blue green test is something that I now carry with me on all my hikes!
I don't want to take any chances with our dogs getting into waters that have blue green algae.
If you love taking your dogs on outdoor adventures this might be something
that you want to carry with you as well. I will leave some product links for you in the
description below the video and if you're looking for more great products for your next adventure
check out our playlist over here and until next time keep your paws on the road.