TruDetx™ Bed Bug Rapid Test - is a revolutionary new bed bug detection device that allows pest control professionals to identify even low-level infestations with over 90%* accuracy and results in five minutes, on-site.
TRUDETX is used for the first possible bed bug infestation or after 90 days after the end of a bedbug infestation. TRUDETX should be used on surfaces where people sleep during the day or at night (30+ minutes) such as beds or sofas.
Changing the game when it comes to bed bug detection!
Bed bugs can pose a health threat, cause embarrassment and uproot lives during the treatment process. For years, pest management professionals have relied on outdated, resource-intensive detection methods that still fail to reliably detect small-scale infestations.
Today, change is finally here with a revolutionary science-based technology: TruDetx™ Bed Bug Rapid Test. To learn more about this change, we sat down with Peter Jardine and Alex Ko to discuss what it means for PCOs and the future of the industry.
Bed bug inspection is a difficult process for both the pest control professional and the client. Bed bugs can be hard to find, so inspections require turning mattresses over and disposing of sheets. It's basically about dismantling the part.
When a customer calls and says "I think I have bed bugs," the PCO must conduct a thorough inspection. It is quite traumatic to feel like you can't sleep in your own bed without being stung. Alex Ko
Bed bugs can be hard to find. They hide in cracks, crevices and other protected areas near where people sleep. They are very inconspicuous and very difficult to identify with the naked eye. In case of moderate or low infestation, pest control professionals can very easily miss it. Previously, there was no reliable tool to detect small-scale bed bug infestations.
With the TruDetx Bed Bug Rapid Test, pest control professionals now have a reliable and scientific tool to confirm the presence of bed bug residues, so they can solve the problem. This kind of specificity and precision – the results are proven to be over 90% accurate* – is totally new to the industry. Peter Jardine
The technology is new to this market, but this type of lateral flow test has been around for a long time. Everyone has probably seen the COVID-19 self-test, which works very similarly. So it's something very familiar. Peter Jardine
It is essentially an environmental collection swab. The PCO swab around areas where bed bugs can lodge, such as mattresses, chairs, sofas and others. After collecting the residue, he closes the cap and breaks the seal. Once the liquid has drained into the swab, simply shake it lightly and place four drops in the sample. After five minutes, the results are available. As with the COVID-19 self-test, if two lines are present, the result is positive. Alex Ko
If you take a technology like this, which makes things super easy, and put it in the hands of a professional, you really have a winning combination. This is an example of what we stand for at Envu. It's not just about chemistry – there's no chemistry. It is a scientific and intelligent device. I think this sends a clear message: we are committed to finding new ways to solve our customers' problems and make their jobs easier. Peter Gardening
Hear more from Alex Ko on the science behind TruDetx™ and watch our video.
NB: The width of the line may vary but does not give information on the level of infestation.
Before any treatment, shelter food, unplug and cover aquariums, remove or protect plants, and evacuate pets.
Application by spot spraying at strategic points:
> Treatment with 2 applications minimum spaced 10-15 days
apart> A 3rd application may be necessary in some cases after 3 to 4 weeks.
NB: Do not treat on areas directly in contact with the skin of the occupants.
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures should be avoided. The tests should be stored in a place where the temperature is above 2° and below 30°. Tests and swabs have a shelf life of two years under these conditions.
Yes. Like a COVID-19 test, the TruDetx™ Bed Bug Rapid Test can detect residues from previous, inactive, 90-day infestations. After 90 days, the residues become less potent and fall below the test threshold. Therefore, we recommend the TruDetx™ Bed Bug Rapid Test as an inspection tool and not as a monitoring tool, especially if the treatment history is not known.
Yes. The TruDetx™ Bed Bug Rapid Test is more than 90% effective in detecting residues of common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus). Bat bugs are related insects and can produce a positive result, as can residues of carpet black beetles (Attagenus unicolor). These parasites are rarely present where bed bugs settle, which is why it is important to limit sampling to the main living areas of bed bugs.
Use the soft end to collect residue by rubbing cotton swabs into sleeping areas where bed bugs hide, such as along the mattress seams on top and below, box spring (potential refuge areas), headboard (angular areas or slots), seams/edges of sofas or lounge chairs (potential refuge areas at the seat. Typically, these are places where people sleep or rest. Be sure to scrub the surfaces well to have the best chance of recovering the residue.
Once you have taken the sample from the surfaces, you can choose to perform the test on site or label your sample and test later.
To start the test, first break the seal of the solution in the swab. Bend the rod until it snaps into place, releasing the liquid to the bottom of the tube.
Then gently shake the tube during to make sure the swab is soaked. Then open the test bag. Do not open the pouch until you are ready to test the sample you have collected. Place the test on a flat surface and remove the white cap at the bottom of the tube.
Then gently squeeze the pear to deposit four drops in the well at the bottom of the test.
The test starts as soon as the four drops of the liquid sample are deposited on the cassette. The reading of the result is done in the first 5 minutes.
Yes.
- If a line corresponds to the mark "C", it means that the test is valid. If no line matches the "T" mark, it means that no bed bug residue was found.
- If there is a line at the level of the mark "C" and a line (even weak) at the level of the mark "T", it means that the test is valid and that residues of bed bugs have been found.
- The absence of lines in the window or the presence of a line at the "T" mark, but nothing at the "C" mark, indicates that the test is not valid.
No, the test is for single use. Nevertheless, before performing the test, it is possible to take the sample in several rooms / areas likely to be infested by bed bugs.
