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    Lead Testing Recommendations for Children

    Tip

    For health care provider questions on testing or cases, contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at (888) 242-1100 (option 3).

    The Statewide Blood Lead Risk Assessment and Testing Plan provides a set of criteria to determine which children should receive a blood lead test. A summary of blood lead testing recommendations are summarized below.

    Children should get a blood lead test if they meet any one of three criteria:

    Criterion 1 - Geography

    Blood lead test if child lives in a targeted community. Children living in the following targeted communities should be tested:

    Alliance - 69301
    Beatrice - 68310
    Central City - 68826
    Columbus - 68601
    Fairbury - 68352
    Fremont - 68025
    Grand Island - 68801, 68803
    Hastings - 68901
    Lincoln - 68502, 68503, 68504, 68507, 68508, 68510, 68521
    Nebraska City - 68410
    Norfolk - 68701
    Omaha - 68102, 68104, 68105, 68106, 68107, 68108, 68110, 68111, 68112, 68131, 68132
    Schuyler - 68661
    Scottsbluff - 69361
    York - 68467

    *As more blood lead data and demographic data are obtained, targeted communities will be re-evaluated annually and revised on the Blood Lead Testing Plan. 

    Criterion 2 - Medicaid and WIC

    Medicaid requires testing a child at 12 and 24 months, and WIC requires staff to ask whether a participating child has had a blood lead test done in the past 12 months.

    Medicaid Requirements for Blood Lead Testing

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires that all children receive a screening blood lead test at 12 months and 24 months of age. Children between the ages of 36 months and 72 months of age must receive a screening blood lead test if they have not been previously screened for lead poisoning. A blood lead test must be used when screening Medicaid-eligible children.

    For more information on Medicaid Requirements, visit:

    Criterion 3 - Risk Questionnaire

    If child does not live in targeted community or enrolled in Medicaid or WIC, providers should use a verbal risk assessment to help determine other factors that could place a child at risk. The questions are below:

    • Does the child live in or often visit a house, daycare, preschool, home of a relative, etc., built before 1950?
    • Does the child live in or often visit a house built before 1978 that has been remodeled within the last year?
    • Does the child have a brother, sister or playmate with lead poisoning?
    • Does the child live with an adult whose job or hobby involves lead?
    • Does the child's family use any home remedies or cultural practices that may contain or use lead?
    • Is the child included in a special population group, i.e., foreign adoptee, refugee, migrant, immigrant, foster care child?

    Medical Management Recommendations

    Childhood Lead Exposures: Medical Management Recommendations for Health Care Professionals

    Adult Lead Exposures: Management Recommendations for Health Care Professionals

    Guidelines for Public Health and Case Management

    Guidelines for Public Health and Case Management for Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels

    Required Blood Lead Level Reporting

    According to Nebraska Regulations, 173 NAC 1, health care providers and/or laboratories are required by law to submit reports of all blood lead tests, including capillary and venous tests regardless of the result, within seven days of detection.