Elevated BLL
My Child Has an Elevated Blood Lead Level. What Can I Do?
First, make sure your child gets a confirmatory test.
Only a venous test (blood drawn from the arm) can confirm if your child’s blood lead level is elevated.
If your child had a capillary test (in which blood is drawn from a finger stick) and the result was at or above 3.5 μg/dL, it needs to be confirmed with a venous test as soon as possible. Capillary samples are easier to contaminate and sometimes the results are not accurate.
Confirmatory venous tests need to be prescribed by a doctor. If your child is uninsured, you can find a list of pediatric healthcare resources in Allegheny County that can help in the ACHD Resource Guide(PDF, 608KB).
Confirmed Elevated BLL? Time to Take Action
Elevated blood lead levels can go down if you take steps to remove lead from the environment.
Lead exposure may not immediately produce symptoms in a child, so take action now even if your child is not showing any symptoms. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Even low levels of lead in the blood have shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, academic achievement, and create other behavioral issues.
Different levels require different follow up, so it is important to discuss the test results with your child’s doctor as soon as possible. Your child’s doctor will tell you which is the best treatment for your child.
Family Resources
Talk with the ACHD Housing Program
If your child’s confirmed blood lead level is at or above 3.5 ug/dl: ACHD’s Housing and Community Environment Program will contact your family to offer you a free voluntary lead-based paint investigation to identify potential sources of lead exposure in your house. You can contact the Housing program at 412-350-4046.
If you’re not eligible, our Resources page has info about private lead inspectors and risk assessors in your area.
Information about Free Home Repairs
The Allegheny County Economic Development Lead Safe Homes Program removes lead hazards from eligible homes. Check their program website or call 412-227-5700 for more information.
Early Intervention Services
A confirmed blood lead level of ≥ 3.5 μg/dL gets any child between 0-3 years old access to Early Intervention services. Contact the Alliance for Infants & Toddlers by calling 412-885-6000 for more information. If your child is 3-5 years old, contact the Allegheny Intermediate Unit - DART program by calling 412-394-5904.