Blood Lead Level Testing for Children and Adults in Detroit

Blood Lead Level Testing for Children and Adults in Detroit

If you live an older home in Detroit, it’s a good idea to have yourself and your child tested for blood lead levels.

In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint, but some states banned it even earlier. Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead paint is usually not a problem. If you live in an older home and you’ve had your home undergo renovations where lead dust may have been in the air, it’s reasonable to have yourself and your child tested for lead levels in the blood.

Generally speaking, it's recommended that all children be tested for high lead levels by ages 1 or 2, and children at higher risk for lead toxicity should get tested whenever there’s a suspicion for lead exposure.

All children covered by Medicaid are considered high risk for lead exposure (that’s why all children are tested at 12 and 24 mo).

• In Michigan, deteriorated lead paint is the #1 source of lead exposure.

• If a person has lead exposure during pregnancy or while breast feeding, lead can also enter their baby’s blood

• Homes built before 1978 or having renovations, repair work, or remodeling in the last 12 months confers a higher risk of lead exposure.