U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to Deploy XOS Analyzer for Consumer Product Testing

ALBANY, NY (November 22, 2010) – XOS, a leading provider of mission-critical materials analysis solutions for industries and regulators, announces that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has awarded the company a contract to purchase an HD Prime, a state-of-the-art analytical instrument to be used for the detection of lead and other regulated elements in consumer products. This analyzer, called “HD Prime” utilizes next generation high definition x-ray fluorescence (HDXRF) technology developed by XOS that measures these elements at much lower levels, and with much greater precision and reliability than traditional analyzers.

The HD Prime analyzer just purchased by the CPSC will be used by the agency at its test lab facilities to verify that lead levels in painted toys and other children’s products are in compliance with the federal limit of 90 parts per million (ppm). The unit, currently being used by private industry and test labs, may also be used by the CPSC to test for cadmium and other heavy metals in both paint and substrate materials across a wide variety of consumer products.

“XOS anticipates that there will be growing interest in and demand for its HDXRF analyzers as more government agencies—as well as makers and sellers of consumer products—recognize the utility, reliability and ease of use of this technique,” said Satbir Nayar, Product Manager – HDXRF.

HDXRF is capable of detecting levels of lead and other regulated elements in paint and substrates down to single digit parts-per-million in a broad range of materials. This level of sensitivity and accuracy is accomplished without sample destruction required by traditional “wet chemistry” methods that are also more costly and time consuming.

ASTM International, a leading standards development organization, recently issued F2853-10, a uniform test method for the use of HDXRF technology as a reliable method for measuring lead in paint and substrates. Formal recognition for the use of this new test method, to officially certify products to the lead paint standard, is currently under consideration.

For additional information on HDXRF, as well as HDXRF Analyzers, such as HD Prime and HD Equity, please e-mail snayar@xos.com or visit www.xos.com/hdxrf