Blood (Venous)

Royal Blue K2 EDTA tube

6 mL blood in royal blue tube

Heparin anticoagulant.

This test is for venous collection only. Capillary samples are NOT acceptable. Refer to the link below for Lead, Blood, by LeadCare II.

3 working days upon receipt at reference laboratory

0.0-4.9 μg/dL

Concentration   Comment
5-9.9 μg/dL     Adverse health effects are possible, particularly
                in children under 6 years of age and pregnant women.
                Discuss health risks associated with continued lead 
                exposure. For children and women who are or may become
                pregnant, reduce lead exposure. 

10-19.9 μg/dL   Reduced lead exposure and increased biological
                monitoring are recommended. 

20-69.9 μg/dL   Removal from lead exposure and prompt medical
                evaluation are recommended. Consider chelation therapy 
                when concentrations exceed 50 μg/dL and symptoms of
                lead toxicity are present.

>69.9 μg/dL     Critical.  Immediate medical evaluation is
                recommended. Consider chelation therapy when symptoms of
                lead toxicity are present.

Elevated results may be due to skin or collection-related contamination, including use of a noncertified lead-free tube. Elevated levels of blood lead should be confirmed with a second specimen collected in a lead-free tube.

Sources of reference interval and interpretive comments include the CDC Guidelines for Screening Children for Blood Lead, 1997 and the Recommendations for Medical Management of Adult Lead Exposure, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007. Thresholds and time intervals for retesting, medical evaluation, and response vary by state and regulatory body. Contact your State Department of Health and/or applicable regulatory agency for specific guidance on medical management recommendations.

Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry

83655

See also:
Lead, Whole Blood, by LeadCare II