County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, Blood Lead Levels

There are two methods that can be used to test a child for lead poisoning. Those methods are 1) capillary (fingerstick), which allows a large number of children to be screened, and 2) venous (blood taken from the vein that is very accurate.) The following chart informs you as to what actions the local Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) staff will provide when results are received from either method. The blood lead levels given are measured in micrograms per deciliter (one millionth of a gram).

Blood Level	Fingerstick Method	Venous Method
Below 10µg/dL	Re-Screen at appropriate age, normally at 1 and 2 years of age.	Re-Screen at appropriate age, normally at 1 and 2 years of age.
Below 10µg/dL	No action from local Health Dept.	No action from local Health Dept.
10-14 µg/dL	Your child needs a venous blood test for confirmation within 1 month.	Retest in 3 months.
10-14 µg/dL	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Facilitate a venous blood test for confirmation.	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Lead education literature Facilitate retest in 3 months
15-19 µg/dL	Your child needs a venous blood test in 2 to 4 weeks for confirmation.	Retest in 1-2 months. * If your child has a second blood lead test result in this range CLPPP staff will proceed according to actions for blood lead levels between 20-44 ug/dL.
15-19 µg/dL	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Facilitate a venous blood test for confirmation	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Lead education literature Facilitate retest in 1-2 months
20-44 µg/dL	Your child needs a venous blood test for confirmation in 1 to 2 weeks.	Retest in 1 month.
20-44 µg/dL	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Facilitate a venous blood test for confirmation.	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Public Health Nurse home visit Medical case management Environmental investigation Referral to appropriate agencies Lead education literature Facilitate retest in 1 month
Above 45-69 µg/dL	Your child needs a venous blood test for confirmation within 24-48 hours.	Your child needs a full medical checkup and possible medical treatment NOW!
Above 45-69 µg/dL	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Facilitate venous blood test for confirmation within 24-48 hours.	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Immediate PHN home visit Medical case management Environmental lead investigation Referral to appropriate agencies Monitor chelation treatment Facilitate retest as appropriate Lead education literature
> 70 µg/dL	Your child needs a venous blood test for confirmation, immediately!	Blood lead levels over 70ųg/dL are considered a medical emergency!
> 70 µg/dL	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Telephone consultation Facilitate immediate venous blood test for confirmation.	Santa Cruz County CLPPP staff will provide: Facilitate hospitalization Medical case management Environmental investigation Referral to appropriate agencies Monitor chelation treatment Facilitate retest as appropriate Lead education literature

		Mailing Address: County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency 1080 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 \| Phone: 831 454 4000 \| Fax: 831 454 4770 Hearing Impaired TDD: 831 454 2123 \| copyright© 2000 County of Santa Cruz
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