About Blood Lead Testing - Magellan LeadCare II User Manual

About the LeadCare II Blood Lead Analyzer
The LeadCare II Blood Lead Analyzer is a portable device for testing the amount
of lead in whole blood.
Figure 1-6 LeadCare II Blood Lead Analyzer

About Blood Lead Testing

Childhood lead poisoning is a major, preventable environmental health problem
in the United States. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to lead can
result in damage to the nervous, hematopoietic, endocrine, renal, and
reproductive systems causing lifelong physical and mental health problems.
Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of lead as their nervous
systems are still developing.
In 2012, based on the increased body of evidence demonstrating there is no safe
level of lead in the blood, experts established a new reference value to identify
children who have elevated blood lead levels (BLL). According to the Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website, this level is based on the U.S.
population of children ages 1-5 years who are in the top 2.5% of children when
tested for lead in their blood. Currently this reference value is 5 µg/dL, a change
from the previously utilized "level of concern" set at 10 µg/dL. 1 The CDC
re-assesses the reference level every four years. Detailed information on the
current recommendations can be found on the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/blood_lead_levels.htm.
CDC . CDC Response to Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Recommendations
1
in "Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call of Primary Prevention" Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. June 7, 2012.
LeadCare ® II User's Guide 1-9