Lead, Blood (Pediatric)
| Lead, Blood (Pediatric) | | | |
| Number | | 717009 |
| CPT | | 83655 |
| Related Information | | Lead and Protoporphyrin (FEP/ZPP), Blood (Pediatric) Lead, Blood (Adult) |
| Synonyms | | Pb, Blood |
| Specimen | | Whole blood |
| Volume | | 0.5 mL (capillary) or 3 mL (venous) |
| Minimum Volume | | 0.5 mL |
Container | | Microtainer™ (EDTA) tube, pediatric lavender-top
(EDTA) tube, royal blue-top (EDTA) tube or brown-top
(sodium heparin) tube. Submit original tube. |
| Collection | | Mix blood thoroughly to avoid clotting. |
| Storage Instructions | | Maintain specimen at room temperature. |
| Patient Preparation | | Caution: Microtainer™ results may be artificially elevated due to skin surface contamination. Venipuncture is preferred. For capillary puncture, wash skin surface thoroughly to minimize contamination. |
| Causes for Rejection | | Clotted specimen |
| Reference Interval | | Environmental exposure: 0-15 years: 0-9 μg/dL1 |
| Use | | Monitor environmental lead exposure in children younger than 16 years |
| Methodology | | Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) |
| Additional Information | | The Centers for Disease control and Prevention recommends
the following testing schedule for children with elevated
BLLs (blood lead levels) on a screening test.2
See table. Blood Lead Levels (CDC)
Result of Screening Test
(ìg/dL) is: | Perform Diagnostic Test on
Venous Blood Within: | | 10-19 | 3 months | | 20-44 | 1 month - 1 week1 | | 45-59 | 48 hours | | 60-69 | 24 hours | | >69 | Immediately as an emergency lab
test | | 1The
higher the screening BLL, the more urgent the need for a
diagnostic test. A diagnostic BLL is the first
venous BLL obtained within 6 months of an elevated
screening BLL. |
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| Footnotes | | - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children: A Statement by the Centers for Disease Control,” Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1991.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Screening Young Children for Lead Poisoning,” 1997, 92-106
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