AFTE Store - Limit of Detection with Sodium Rhodizonate: Bullet Wipe Patterns with Selected Ammunition Examined for Lead

A two-fold experiment was conducted to determine bullet wipe for different types of .22 caliber ammunition. First, the limit of detection for lead using the sodium rhodizonate test was determined. Secondly, 35 bullet wipe patterns produced from different types of ammunition were tested with sodium rhodizonate. The limit of detectability (LOD) was determined by testing serial dilutions of a 1% Pb2+ stock solution from 5,000 ppm to 0.001 ppm (1 ppb). The LOD was found to be approximately 40 ppm. The 35 bullet wipe patterns all tested positive using sodium rhodizonate.