Whips

Metal detector test whips are the purpose-built standard for challenging inline and pipeline metal detection systems without interrupting product flow. The flexible high-visibility whip body allows the operator to pass the enclosed certified Grade 200 miniature precision ball through the full detector aperture from outside the product stream — delivering a controlled, repeatable sensitivity challenge at any point in the detection zone.

Application: Inline and pipeline metal detection system sensitivity validation
Available Sizes: Multiple lengths to accommodate varying pipeline aperture diameters
Contaminant Types: FE 7.80 g/cc · NF 8.47 g/cc · SS316 7.95 g/cc · SS304 7.95 g/cc · SS440 7.70 g/cc · AL 2.79 g/cc
Contaminant Sample: Certified Grade 200 miniature precision ball visibly enclosed in high-visibility plastic housing
Compliance: FDA-compliant materials throughout
Traceability: Color-coded; permanently imprinted with size, contaminant type, and unique CoC number
Documentation: Certificate of Compliance available with every order
Price: $30.00 per unit

Frequently Asked Questions

Metal Detector Test Whips — Inline & Pipeline Validation

A test whip is a flexible, high-visibility plastic standard designed for challenging inline and pipeline metal detectors. A certified Grade 200 miniature precision ball is visibly enclosed near the tip of the whip body. The operator holds the handle end and passes the ball through the full detector aperture from outside the product stream — providing a controlled sensitivity challenge without requiring line stoppage or product contact.

Test sticks and wands are rigid standards passed through conveyor-style or open-aperture tunnel detectors from end to end with the product flow. A test whip is specifically engineered for pipeline and inline systems where a rigid standard cannot be fed through the aperture without contacting the product or entering the flow path. The flexible whip body threads through the aperture while the operator retains control from outside the system — making it the right tool for circular pipeline apertures and enclosed gravity-feed or pump-fed lines.

Test whips are available in multiple sizes to accommodate varying pipeline aperture diameters. Size selection ensures the whip body can pass fully through the aperture while the enclosed precision ball traverses the complete detection zone. Contact Test Standard Labs or refer to your metal detector manufacturer's documentation to confirm the correct whip size for your specific pipeline configuration.

All six standard contaminant types are available: Ferrous (FE, 7.80 g/cc), Non-Ferrous (NF, 8.47 g/cc), Stainless Steel 316 (SS316, 7.95 g/cc), Stainless Steel 304 (SS304, 7.95 g/cc), Stainless Steel 440 (SS440, 7.70 g/cc), and Aluminum (AL, 2.79 g/cc). Most pipeline metal detector validation programs specify SS316 as the minimum sensitivity marker, as it is the hardest of the three stainless grades to detect.

With the metal detector powered and operating at production settings, insert the tip of the whip into the pipeline aperture and feed it through until the enclosed precision ball passes completely through the detection zone. The system must trigger a detection event. Many protocols require the ball to be passed through the center, top, and bottom zones of the aperture to confirm uniform sensitivity across the full field. Always follow your facility's written validation SOP and detector manufacturer guidelines for pass frequency and acceptance criteria.

Metal detector sensitivity is lowest at the center of the aperture and highest near the coil windings at the edges. Standard practice — and many food safety audit requirements — call for challenging the worst-case sensitivity zone, which is the geometric center of the aperture. Passing the whip through the center confirms the system can detect the specified contaminant even at its point of lowest sensitivity, providing meaningful validation data rather than an optimistic edge-zone result.

Yes. Test whips are manufactured throughout from FDA-compliant materials, making them appropriate for use on food processing and pharmaceutical production lines. The high-visibility plastic body also aids in retrieval and visual confirmation that the standard has been removed from the production area after testing — supporting good hygiene and GMP practices.

Test whips with CoC documentation satisfy metal detection CCP challenge testing requirements under HACCP plans, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, SQF Code, and FSSC 22000. The CoC links each whip to a documented standard by size, contaminant type, and serial number, providing the written traceability record auditors require when reviewing your metal detector CCP records.

Yes. FDA-compliant construction combined with Certificate of Compliance documentation makes test whips suitable for inline metal detector qualification in pharmaceutical environments governed by GMP, USP requirements, and 21 CFR Part 211. The CoC provides the traceable, numbered reference documentation required for IQ/OQ/PQ validation packages and FDA inspection readiness.

Every order includes a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) documenting the whip size, contaminant type, material density, Grade 200 ball certification, and a unique CoC serial number. Each whip is color-coded by contaminant type and permanently imprinted with this information, creating a direct link between the physical standard and its paperwork for HACCP, BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, GMP, and FDA audit events.

Why Choose Test Standard Labs?

Trusted by 1,000+ facilities worldwide

Metal Detector Test Whip Aluminum

$30.00
Metal Detector Test Whip Ferrous

$30.00
Metal Detector Test Whip Non-Fe Brass

$30.00
Metal Detector Test Whip SS304

$30.00
Metal Detector Test Whip SS316

$30.00
Metal Detector Test Whip SS440

$30.00

Whips

Frequently Asked Questions

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