School Water Lead Testing and Blood Lead Level Testings
Increased levels of lead have been found in water drawn from schools in Alameda County. Schools and school districts are notifying parents about the potential lead exposures at the school and blood lead level testing. As a result, we expect parents and school staff will be requesting a blood lead test and would like you to order a blood lead test for a suspected exposure to lead.
In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established a new "reference value”"of 5 micrograms per deciliter for blood lead levels, thereby lowering the level at which evaluation and intervention are recommended. Depending on your patient’s age and blood lead level, they may be referred for Lead Poisoning Prevention Services, i.e. a combination of health, environmental and residential hazard reduction services, provided by the Alameda County Healthy Homes Department’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.