Screening for Lead Poisoning

Screening for lead poisoning helps identify individuals who have experienced lead exposure. This is critical as lead poisoning is associated with major adverse health effects in young children, including developmental delays. Identifying lead poisoning cases helps a local health department detect and eliminate sources of lead contamination.

Lead screening requires a small sample to detect lead in the blood, typically by pricking a child's finger. This is the first test in determining childhood lead poisoning as it is minimally invasive and less painful for the child.

Nowadays, the most common strategy is targeted screening of at-risk populations such as child immigrants, refugees, or internationally adopted children who may have been exposed to lead in a previous environment. Children who have been identified as having a higher risk of lead exposure should also be screened, such as those who may have drunk from contaminated pipes.