Lead Blood Test-Why am I having this test?

Lead is a substance that occurs naturally in the earth and is very poisonous (toxic) to humans. Exposure to high amounts of lead can result in lead building up in tissues throughout the body, especially in the brain and nervous system. This is called lead poisoning. This test may be done:

• As a screening test for children who do not have symptoms of lead poisoning. This is often done to detect lead exposure as early as possible to prevent lead poisoning.
• If you have possible symptoms of lead poisoning, such as:
  • Mood changes.
  • Frequent headaches.
  • Repeated miscarriages or early (preterm) deliveries, if applicable.
  • Signs of a learning impairment or developmental delay in children.
  • Decreased mental function.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Memory loss.
• If you have already been diagnosed with lead poisoning, and your health care provider is monitoring your treatment.

What is being tested?

This test measures the amount of lead in the blood.

What kind of sample is taken?

A blood sample is required for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

How are the results reported?

Your test results will be reported as a value that tells you how much lead is in your blood. This will be given as micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (mcg/dL).

Your health care provider will compare your results to normal values that were established after testing a large group of people (reference values). Reference values may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, a common reference value is less than 5 mcg/dL.

What do the results mean?

For children:

• A result of 0 mcg/dL is considered negative, meaning that there is no lead in the blood.
• If your child’s result is higher than the reference value, this may mean that your child has been exposed to lead recently, or that he or she has lead poisoning. Your health care provider will work with you to develop a plan to monitor and treat your child and to prevent continued or future exposure of your child to lead.

For adults:

• A result of 0 mcg/dL is considered negative, meaning that there is no lead in the blood.
• If your result is lower than the reference value, this means that you have an acceptable amount of lead in your body. This may mean that you do not have lead poisoning, or that your treatment for lead poisoning is working well.
• If your result is higher than the reference value, this means that you have too much lead in your body. This may mean that you have been exposed to lead recently, or that you have lead poisoning. Your health care provider will determine what type of treatment you need based on the amount of lead in your blood and your symptoms.

Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.

Questions to ask your health care provider

Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:

• When will my results be ready?
• How will I get my results?
• What are my treatment options?
• What other tests do I need?
• What are my next steps?

Summary

• Lead is a substance that occurs naturally in the earth and is very poisonous (toxic) to humans. Exposure to high amounts of lead can result in lead building up in tissues throughout the body, especially in the brain and nervous system. This is called lead poisoning.
• This test measures the amount of lead in your blood.
• If your results show a high amount of lead in your body, you may have been exposed to lead recently or have lead poisoning. Your treatment will depend on how severe your condition is.
• Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.