Got a question about pH paper, sanitizer test kits or buffer standards? You're in the right place. We've organized our most common questions by topic below, from product basics to technical specs to ordering. Can't find what you need? Email us at custserv@microessentiallab.com or call 718-338-3618.

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Hydrion pH paper has a shelf life of 3 years from the date of manufacture. Every roll and dispenser is marked with an expiration date and lot number on the color chart, so you can check accuracy at a glance.

Shelf life varies by product type:

• Unprepared buffers: 5 years
• Prepared buffers (no preservative): 3 to 6 weeks in an airtight container
• Prepared buffers with our buffer preservative: up to 3 months
• pH papers: 3 years
• pH pencils: 5 years from manufacture
• All other products: 2 years

Always check the expiration date printed on your product label or color chart for the most accurate reading.

Keep test papers in a dry location, away from direct sunlight. For more detail on proper storage and handling, see our pH Quality Assurance page.

We offer several formats to fit different testing needs:

Rolls

• Standard: 1/4 inch wide by 15 feet
• Mikro: 5/32 inch wide by 15 feet (two rolls per dispenser)
• Jumbo: 1/2 inch by 50 feet
• Dual Roll Jumbo: 5/32 inch wide by 50 feet (two rolls per dispenser)

Strips

• Standard: 1/4 x 2 inches, packed 10 vials per carton, 100 strips per vial
• Jumbo: 3/8 x 2 inches, packed 5 vials per carton, 100 strips per vial

Envelopes

• 3/8 x 2 inches, 15 strips per envelope, 100 envelopes per carton

Sheets (special packaging, minimum order applies)

• 20 x 20 inches, minimum order of 100 sheets
• 10 x 10 inches, minimum order of 200 sheets

Browse our full pH paper lineup to find the right format for your application.

We offer several formats to fit different testing needs: Rolls • Standard: 1/4 inch wide by 15 feet • Mikro: 5/32 inch wide by 15 feet (two rolls per dispenser) • Jumbo: 1/2 inch by 50 feet • Dual Roll Jumbo: 5/32 inch wide by 50 fee

To find the specific instructions relevant to your product, please check the color chart and box for the accompanying instructions.

You can also visit the product page on our site and click the "Product Directions" tab.

Still have questions?

• Email custserv@microessentiallab.com or
• call 718-338-3618
• Fax: (718) 692-4491

Base color can vary slightly from lot to lot, but this has no effect on accuracy or how the paper reacts to a test solution. Every batch goes through the same quality assurance process. If you're ever not satisfied with a product, contact us for a return authorization.

Visit our Industry Solutions page to find products and guidance specific to laboratories, healthcare, food service, education and environmental safety.

Email custserv@microessentiallab.com or call 718-338-3618. Our technical team is ready to help.

For testing urine and saliva pH we suggest Hydrion 5.5 – 8.0 pH paper(#067) or Hydrion 5.0- 9.0 pH Strips (#7400).

We recommend Hydrion 5.5-8.0 pH paper (#067) or Hydrion 5.0-9.0 pH strips (#7400) for this application.

No, Hydrion 334 is not intended for medical use. It measures pH in the 4.5 to 7.5 range and is often used informally for urine and saliva, but we recommend product #067 (5.5 to 8.0 range) for that purpose instead. If you need an FDA listed diagnostic pH test, pHizatest® is available through medical distributors and was specifically designed for that use.

Want to learn more about how pH testing supports patient care? See our Healthcare Industry Solutions page.

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Both kits test quaternary ammonium based sanitizer solutions, but for different compound types.

• The QT-10 measures 2-chain quaternary ammonium compounds with match points at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm.
• The QT-40 measures 4-chain compounds with match points at 0, 150, 200, 400 and 500 ppm.

Not sure which matches your sanitizer? Contact your chemical provider or email us at custserv@microessentiallab.com.

Both are built for testing high range quat concentrations.

• The QC-1001 includes one roll of test paper with a chart matching at 0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm.
• The QK-1000 (double roll Quat Check) includes that same roll plus a second roll and chart with matches at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm for more precise readings at lower concentrations.

Most commercially available quat sanitizers fall in the correct pH range already. Some formulations include alkalis that push pH higher than expected. If you want to double check, test with our catalog #93 pH paper, which measures between 0 and 13.

Collect a urine sample in a clean container. Dip the test paper into the sample, shake off any excess liquid, then compare the resulting color to the chart.

1. Dip the test paper into your solution, or wet it by direct contact with the test material.
2. Remove it immediately and compare the color to the chart on the dispenser.
3. The number tied to the closest color match is your pH reading.

Dip and read papers work best with buffered solutions. For unbuffered solutions like tap water or rain water, use our Lo Ion test kits instead.

Some homeopathic nutritionists suggest an optimal range between 6.8 and 7.2. We strongly recommend speaking with a licensed physician before drawing any health conclusions from at home pH testing.

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Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. doesn't have a program specifically for healthcare providers, but we do offer discounts to qualified distributors and resellers. If you think you might qualify, email custserv@microessentiallab.com.

You may also contact us via:

• Telephone: (718) 338-3618
• Fax: (718) 692-4491

Visit our Become a Distributor page, fill out the distributor information form, and our team will follow up with you shortly.

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. offers volume discounts to distributors. In addition, our distributors are assured of extraordinary dedicated customer service from a dedicated account service team.

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. offers discounts to distributors, and resellers.

For specific pricing, or additional information on our discount structure, please contact customer service at:

• custserv@microessentiallab.com
• Telephone: (718) 338-3618
• Fax: (718) 692-4491

Test papers are designed to be dipped and matched to the chart immediately. Using paper after it's started to dry, or reading it too long after dipping, can produce inaccurate results. Follow the instructions on your specific product for best results.

In vitro is Latin for "in glass." It refers to testing or procedures conducted outside a living organism, typically in a test tube or similar container.

A buffered solution contains enough dissolved solids to resist changes in pH. Urine and saliva are naturally buffered.

Rain water and tap water are considered weakly buffered, or dilute, solutions.

For testing weakly buffered solutions, we recommend our Lo Ion papers.

Accuracy depends on the paper type:

• Wide range papers (full pH unit increments): accurate to ±0.5 pH units
• Short range papers (half pH unit increments): accurate to ±0.25 pH units
• Our MicroFine pH papers (measurement at .2 to .3 pH units) are accurate to ± 0.2 pH units.

No. Each color chart is calibrated specifically for the lot of paper it was produced with, which is part of how we maintain testing accuracy.

We don't offer digital color charts, since accurate readings depend on the specific calibration of each printed lot. Need a replacement? See the question "Do you have replacement color charts for dispensers?".

Yes, we sell replacement charts for dispensers. Contact customer service with your item number and we'll help you find the right one.

Yes, our PAA160 test paper measures Peracetic acid concentration with match points at 0, 10, 30, 60, 80 and 160 ppm.

Yes, our CH-1000 chlorine test strip measures concentrations up to 1,000 ppm.

Want to learn more? See our Introduction to Sanitizers article or browse our Food Service Solutions.

Yes. The pH pencil is an excellent means of measuring the pH of concrete walls.

To accurately measure the pH of the surface, wet the surface with distilled water, then mark with the pencil.

Wait 15 seconds and compare with the color chart.

Add chlorine sanitizer until the solution reaches a concentration of 100 ppm.

If you're using standard commercial bleach, that's roughly 1/2 cup per 5 gallons of water as a starting point.

Always confirm the actual concentration with a chlorine test strip rather than relying on a fixed ratio, since bleach concentrations vary by brand.

Check with your sanitizer supplier for guidance specific to your product.

No, pH paper doesn't perform well in NaCl solutions. Salt interferes with the indicator dyes and can produce inaccurate readings.

The expiration date is marked on the buffer label attached to the vial or Chemvelope. Generally, dry buffer powder stays stable for 5 years from the date of purchase.

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Measure 100 ml of distilled water into a clean container. Open the capsule and add the contents, mixing until fully dissolved. Add 3 drops of Hydrion Color Key Buffer Preservative if you'd like to extend shelf life.

Without preservative, a prepared buffer is good for about 3 weeks in a clean, airtight container.

Replace it sooner if you notice any mold or particles.

With Hydrion Color Key Buffer Preservative added, it lasts up to 3 months.

Need certified buffer documentation? See our Buffer Certificates of Conformance.

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Email custserv@microessentiallab.com or call 718-338-3618 and our technical team will send it over.

You can also browse our full Safety Data Sheets library.

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Our website doesn't process purchase orders as a payment method directly, but we can track a PO for your records.

If you'd like to pay using a purchase order, contact customer service at custserv@microessentiallab.com and we'll help set that up.

You can also reach us via:

• Telephone: (718) 338-3618
• Fax: (718) 692-4491

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover through our website. Corporate customers and distributors can also arrange wire transfers or checks by contacting customer service.

• custserv@microessentiallab.com
• Telephone: (718) 338-3618
• Fax: (718) 692-4491

Your card is charged when we begin fulfilling your order, which typically happens the same day your order ships.

Coupon code discounts appear on the confirmation page just before checkout, not earlier in the process. Complete your order to the confirmation step to see the adjusted total, including any shipping discount.

Yes. We provide private labeling for companies that want their own branding on our products, including Fortune 500 companies.

Custom printed color charts and materials require a minimum order of 500 units.

Contact custserv@microessentiallab.com to get started.

Interested in private labeling for your business? Learn more on our Private Labeling page.