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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.