5Strands | Blue Green Algae Test | at Home Lake Pond Water Sample | Collection Results in 15 Minutes (1)

• When Do Harmful Algae Blooms Occur? Blue-green algae prefer warm, calm, sunny weather and water temperatures higher than 75 °F. Blooms usually occur during summer and early fall, but can occur other times of the year, if conditions are right.
• What Are Harmful Algae Blooms? When blue-green algal blooms produce cyanotoxins (toxins produced by cyanobacteria) that can make humans and animals sick, they are considered harmful. In general, algae are not harmful.
• Possible Health Effects? You can become sick if you swallow, have skin contact with, or breathe in airborne water droplets while swimming, boating, waterskiing, tubing, bathing, or showering in water that has harmful algae or if you drink water that contains algal toxins. If you become sick, you might experience vomiting, diarrhea, rash, eye irritation, cough, sore throat, and headache. Symptoms generally begin with hours of exposure.
• Can Animals Be Effected? Pets, especially dogs, are susceptible to harmful algae because they swallow more water while swimming and doing activities (such as retrieving a ball from the water). Animals can experience symptoms within minutes of exposure to the toxins. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, and seizures. In the worst cases, animals have died. If your pet experiences these symptoms after exposure to algae, contact your veterinarian.

Testing for Blue Green Algae is now quick and easy! Fill the sampling container with water. A chemical reaction will take place which will heat up the container. Leave the container to stand for 10 minutes, then use the pipette to draw some of the water from the container and place a drop of the water into the aperture in the analysis slide. The test result will be ready in 5 minutes. Depending on the result, one or two lines will appear in the analysis window. > 1 line at C = no blue-green algae toxins detected > 2 lines = blue-green algae toxins detected. More detailed instructions are provided inside the kit.