Test Overview
This test measures the amount of lead in the blood. Lead is a
poisonous (toxic) metal that can damage the brain and other parts of the body.
A lead blood test may be done on blood drawn from the vein, a finger (finger
stick), or the heel (heel stick).
A person can be exposed to
lead:
- By eating or drinking lead-contaminated foods,
water, or other material (such as paint chips).
- By breathing dust
or smoke containing lead.
- Through skin contact with lead.
There is no safe age to be exposed to lead. Adults can have
problems from
, but it is most harmful to children
younger than age 6 (especially those younger than age 3) because it can
permanently affect their growth and development. A pregnant woman who is
exposed to lead can pass it to her baby
(). Lead can also be passed to a baby through the
mother's breast milk.