Getting your child tested for lead

Most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick.  The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is to get a blood test.  Learn more about when you should get a blood test (Chinese, Spanish)

Your child's primary care provider may test for lead either using a Capillary Blood Test (from a finger) or a Venous Blood Test (from a vein in the arm).  Be sure to ask for a Venous Blood Test! 

Many providers may first give your child a Capillary Blood Test. This type of test is not very exact and often gives a false high result. When there’s a high result, the Provider will ask for a second confirmation test, the Venous Blood Test.  So, ask the Provider for a Venous Blood Test to begin with. Then your child won't have to sit through a blood test twice in a short period of time. You will save time too because you won't have to go to the lab so many times.

A blood test can be difficult and traumatic.  To make the blood draw a better experience, you can:

• Give your child lots of water at least two hours before going to the lab. This will make it easier for blood to be drawn and reduce multiple pokes!
• Bring with you an item that would comfort or distract your child during the blood draw, like a toy.
• Schedule the test at the right time. 
• A time when your child is less likely to be tired or hungry. 
• After your child has eaten. Eating beforehand will lessen the chance of lightheadedness.
• A blood lead test does not require your child to be fasted but if a blood lead level test is being drawn along other lab tests needing your child to be fasting, please bring a snack, milk, or beverages to give your child after the test.

A blood test gives an idea of how much lead your child has been recently exposed to from the environment.  Depending on the current level, a retest may be necessary.  What you can do help your child also depends on the blood test results (Chinese, Filipino, Spanish).  If you need help understanding the results and what to do, you can contact your child's primary care provider or call the Children's Environmental Health Promotion Program at 415-252-3800.