Lead Screening in Children (LSC-E)

The percentage of persons 2 years of age who had one or more capillary or venous lead blood test for lead poisoning by their second birthday. 

Why It Matters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends testing blood for lead exposure. Medicaid requires that enrolled children get tested for lead at ages 12 and 24 months ⁴. For children not enrolled in Medicaid, the CDC recommends focusing on testing high-risk children based on potential lead exposure ⁴. Health care providers may use a capillary or venous sample for initial blood lead level screening.

Exposure to lead can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, as well as intellectual and behavioral deficits ¹. Because children who are exposed to lead often have no obvious symptoms, lead poisoning often goes unrecognized ¹.

Screening for lead is an easy way to detect an abnormal blood lead level in children. There is no safe blood lead level ². If not found early, exposure to lead and high blood lead levels can lead to irrevocable effects on a child’s physical and mental health ³. Lead poisoning in childhood primarily affects the central nervous system, the kidneys and the blood-forming organs. Adverse effects in young children have been noted at levels as low as 10 µg/dL and include impairments in cognitive function and initiation of various behavioral disorders ². Recent studies have noted effects of lead on cognitive ability at levels even below the level of concern of 10 µg/dL.

Historical Results – National Averages

Performance results for this measure are currently unavailable.