Tests for Lead Poisoning A blood lead test can be done to detect
the level of lead in your body. This is usually performed on a
sample drawn from a vein in the arm but may sometimes be
performed on a sample from a fingerstick or heelstick (for
infants). If the fingerstick sample is abnormal, then it is
frequently followed by a sample taken from the arm to confirm
the findings. Blood lead levels are a snapshot of the amount of
lead in the blood at that moment. They are the best test for
detecting and evaluating recent acute and chronic exposure.
Blood lead samples are used to screen for exposure and to
monitor the effectiveness of treatment. When a child's blood
lead level is greater than 20 mcg/dL, the doctor may order a
hemoglobin and/or hematocrit test to determine if the child is
anemic and may order iron tests to check for iron deficiency.
The zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) test is an old test that has
fallen out of favor for general lead screening. ZPP increases
when lead interferes with the red blood cells'