Lead poisoning risk.
If you don’t know if your child has been exposed to lead, you can find out if they’re safe by having their blood tested for lead poisoning.
Contact your child’s medical provider to request a blood lead test if they:
- Are under age 6.
- Live or regularly visit a house or building built before 1978.
- Live in a low-income community.
- Have a sibling or friend with an elevated blood lead level.
- Are a recent immigrant, refugee, or an international adoptee.
- Have a parent or caregiver that works or has a hobby with lead- based products and may bring it into the home.
- Live in a home that uses herbal supplements, imported household items like spices, candies, cosmetics, and jewelry.
- Have pica behavior—regularly eat non-food items like dirt.
- Have a neuro-developmental disability.
Federal mandate for children receiving Medicaid or Apple Health services
Federal regulations require all children enrolled in Medicaid or Apple Health receive a blood lead test at 12 and 24 months of age. It also requires a blood test at 24-72 months of age if no previous test exists.