How to read salifert calcium test?

[Falconer298]

When I go to read the amount left in the syringe after the color change, do I draw what is left in the end of the dropper back into the syringe and then expel the air until the fluid is at the 0 line to get the reading or do I read it with the air still in it? I’m a bit fuzzy on what the instructions are really instructing to do. When I initially draw up the fluid in the dropper at the beginning, it appears like I have more air than what the picture shows.

Im a paramedic and we never measure drugs with air still in the syringe, seems strange to me to leave it in there!

 

[WVNed]

Just turn the syringe up and read it. You aren't measuring the fluid left in it or how much you dispensed. The result is based on where the plunger was when the color changed and the titration was finished on the result chart. The test was designed to work with the air in it so dont worry about it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When I go to read the amount left in the syringe after the color change, do I draw what is left in the end of the dropper back into the syringe and then expel the air until the fluid is at the 0 line to get the reading or do I read it with the air still in it? I’m a bit fuzzy on what the instructions are really instructing to do. When I initially draw up the fluid in the dropper at the beginning, it appears like I have more air than what the picture shows.

Im a paramedic and we never measure drugs with air still in the syringe, seems strange to me to leave it in there!

The air in the syringe should be entirely ignored. It is just the air in the tip. With a big enough tip, you may not see fluid at all, and it works perfectly.

Always measure from the plunger end.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This question of the day describes it in detail:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-chemistry-question-of-the-day-161-using-a-syringe.226267/

 

[Falconer298]

Thanks everyone. I’m used to expelling any air when I use syringes so it seemed weird. I appreciate your time to reply!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks everyone. I’m used to expelling any air when I use syringes so it seemed weird. I appreciate your time to reply!

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[Chela101]

Hey I’m having trouble how to read the syringe.. like what the syringe means in the conversion chart… can you help me..

 

[Garf]

Hey I’m having trouble how to read the syringe.. like what the syringe means in the conversion chart… can you help me..

Post a pic of the syringe, after you’ve got the solution to change colour.

 

[Chela101]

Post a pic of the syringe, after you’ve got the solution to change colour.

Im about too, I’m doing all my test rn, so in a few minutes I will have an updated result pic

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Assuming you had the plunger down all the way at the start before you pulled up fluid, you read the syringe from the end of the plunger. Be sure to not read it backwards. Delivering a full syringe worth (or near it) is a lot of calcium, not a little bit of calcium.

 

[Chela101]

Assuming you had the plunger down all the way at the start before you pulled up fluid, you read the syringe from the end of the plunger. Be sure to not read it backwards. Delivering a full syringe worth (or near it) is a lot of calcium, not a little bit of calcium.

Hello, I honestly tried to see what you said but I just don’t know how to convert from the syringe to the chart provided to me…

 

[Chela101]

This was the results I got…

 

[Cichlid Dad]

This was the results I got…

What are you testing

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Your calcium is 405. The syringe shows .19 Chart shows .18 410. .20 400.

 

[Chela101]

Your calcium is 405. The syringe shows .19 Chart shows .18 410. .20 400.

So you read it by counting the stripes on the syringe that still have fluid in it? And you just convert it to the chart??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So you read it by counting the stripes on the syringe that still have fluid in it? And you just convert it to the chart??

You take the number from the syringe barrel where the tip of plunger touches the sides of the barrel, no matter where the air/fluid line is inside of it.

I can't see well from the picture, but there is also typically air and water in the syringe. You did not do anything to remove the air, did you? If so, what did you do?

 

[Tcook]

Looks like there is air from 0.19 to 0.08 in the syringe to me.

 

[Chela101]

You take the number from the syringe barrel where the tip of plunger touches the sides of the barrel, no matter where the air/fluid line is inside of it.

I can't see well from the picture, but there is also typically air and water in the syringe. You did not do anything to remove the air, did you? If so, what did you do?

It has the air bubble because when you add the tip. And you suck up the solution the air bubble is what air was on the syringe so basically the fluid on the tip makes up the air bubble, so I know it needs to have a air bubble because of the tip that is used, I was just asking if he got .19 because that’s how many black dashes it has till the plunger ended up in between two numbers. That’s what I was asking I know it needs a air bubble

 

[Chela101]

You take the number from the syringe barrel where the tip of plunger touches the sides of the barrel, no matter where the air/fluid line is inside of it.

I can't see well from the picture, but there is also typically air and water in the syringe. You did not do anything to remove the air, did you? If so, what did you do?

So basically I been doing the test correctly, but you answered my question that you do count the dashes, the air bubble I know it needs it. That’s like a no brainer, I just didn’t know if you count them. Like the test would been more user friendly if it said count ALL dashes and the number of dashes will be convert to 0.01

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So basically I been doing the test correctly, but you answered my question that you do count the dashes, the air bubble I know it needs it. That’s like a no brainer, I just didn’t know if you count them. Like the test would been more user friendly if it said count ALL dashes and the number of dashes will be convert to 0.01

Reading the syringe is like reading a thermometer. :)