This report is to educate and not to incite you.

We’re billing this as a warning label for New Jersey, but, it equally applies nationwide.

It’s surprising that this important information has not been well-publicized since the advent of COVID-19 at-home test kits.

Experts have announced that the test kit fluid called reagent in some rapid COVID-19 test kits contains a powerful poison called sodium azide.

It’s bad for all humans, but, especially so for small children.

Adults are not in the clear. “even small amounts can quickly cause dangerously low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, heart attacks and even strokes,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, Co-Medical Director of the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Johnson-Arbor also confirmed that in higher doses, it can be fatal.

The sodium azide levels in COVID-19 rapid test kits are not always enough to cause all or some of the before mentioned symptoms.

Because children are so much smaller, the experts are concerned that by ingesting even a small amount, there is a higher risk of poisoning.

Dr. Johnson-Arbor advises that poison control hotlines have been getting reports of accidental exposures to the reagent fluid.

“Some people swallow the solution, some have spilled it onto their skin and others have put it in their eyes,” said Dr. Johnson-Arbor.

This type of poisoning has primarily occurred when people mistake the reagent bottle for eye drops.

Before this valuable information became public, perhaps people handled the reagent fluid casually because no one knew that this liquid could potentially cause illness or worse if mishandled.

With hundreds of millions of at-home test kits being provided by the federal government for free, more Americans than ever before will be handling the COVID-19 reagent fluid.

Finally, Dr. Johnson-Arbor warns that, “If you were loved one swallows the reagent fluid or gets the fluid in their eyes or on their skin contact poison control right away.”

Here is the important contact information:

www.poison.org or 1-800-222-1222

SOURCES: National Capital Poison Center & Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor.

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