Interviewer instructions
Ask for a sample of the salt usually used for cooking in the household, and perform the test on this sample of salt. Once you have a sample of salt, perform the test as described below and circle the code that corresponds to the test outcome. Circle '1' if the test is negative (0 parts per million/no colour - not iodized). Circle '2' if the test shows more than 0 but less than 15 parts per million iodine (weak colour). Circle '3' if the test is positive (15 parts per million or more, strong colour). Circle '6' if there is 'No salt in home'. Circle '7' if the salt was present, but not tested for any reason.
Use the provided salt test kit to test the iodine content in the salt sample. The salt testing kits contain small 10 ml bottles with a stabilized starch-based solution. Each kit is sufficient for testing at least 100 samples of salt. One to two drops of the solution dripped on a small amount of salt containing iodine produces a blue/purple colour change. Coloration indicates that iodine is present. Below follows a brief description of the basic steps to test for iodate content in salt, the most common fortificant. The same basic principles also apply when testing for iodide content in salt, with the main difference being that no re-check solution will be needed with that type of salt.
1. Put a small amount of salt (about a teaspoon or less) on a white piece of paper. Make a small pile and flatten the top.
2. Add 1-2 drops of test solution and check the result immediately in good light, using the colour chart supplied with the test kit.
3. When no colour appears (suspected alkalinity in the salt sample); on a fresh sample of salt, add up to 5 drops of the re-check solution supplied with the kit and then add 2 drops of test solution on the same spot and compare to the colour chart.
4. When you have compared to the colour chart, circle on the questionnaire the code that corresponds to the test outcome.
