Get Your Child Tested

How Do You Know if Your Child is Poisoned? Get Your Child Tested!

Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. The Coalition encourages Detroit families with children under six years of age to have their children tested every year. Ask your doctor or the health department to test your child’s blood. Samples are usually drawn by a finger or heel prick. The process takes a few minutes and can be part of a child’s yearly check-up.

Children enrolled in Medicaid are required to get tested for lead at ages 12 and 24 months, or age 24–72 months if they have no record of ever being tested – this is a good guideline for all children.

A blood lead test shows how much lead is in a child’s blood. The amount of lead in blood is referred to as the blood lead level, which is measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL). Any amount of lead in the blood means the child has been exposed to lead and may be still exposed to lead in their environment.