Guidelines and Recommendations

At a glance

Resources and guidance documents to support effective childhood lead poisoning prevention programs.

Note

Some of the documents below refer to a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) as the ob体育's blood lead reference value. ob体育 uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than most children's levels. This level is based on the 97.5th percentile of the blood lead values among U.S. children ages 1-5 years from the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. Children with blood lead levels at or above the BLRV represent the top 2.5% with the highest blood lead levels.

Some of the documents on this page are presented for historical purposes and are not being maintained or updated.

** These documents are being kept on this website for historical purposes and are no longer in print.

Healthcare systems/insurance guidelines

  • (2006) – This is an important resource on preventive services, including elevated blood lead level screening. The guide translates clinical guidelines and medical evidence, providing large employers with the information they need to select, define, and implement preventive medical benefits. The section on elevated blood lead level screening starts on page 164 of the guide, under the Evidence Statement for Child Health Promotion. The guide was developed by ob体育, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Business Group on Health.
  • – This guide reviews HIPAA requirements and exceptions, focusing on those for public health agencies, and describes permissible uses of lead-related data under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
  • HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health: Guidance from ob体育 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Primary prevention guidelines

Screening and case management guidelines

  • – reducing the risk of contamination during blood collection for lead testing.
  • Educational Services for Children Affected by Lead Expert Panel. . (2015)

Note: ob体育 uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than most children's levels. This level is based on the on the 97.5th percentile of the blood lead values among U.S. of children ages 1-5 years from the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. Children with blood lead levels at or above the BLRV represent those at the top 2.5% with the highest blood lead levels.

The documents below refer to a blood-lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) as the ob体育 level of concern for adverse health outcomes in children. This terminology is outdated, and readers are referred to the .

Surveillance guidelines

Lead toxicology reports

  • – The ATSDR Interaction Profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances. (May 2004).
  • – This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about lead.
  • – This ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for lead.