Screening

A blood test is the preferred method for lead screening. There are two tests used to obtain blood lead specimens, capillary blood test or venous blood test. Finger stick capillary blood tests can be done as the initial screening. However, safety measures should be taken to reduce the risk of contamination. These measures include:

• Rinsing powder from the examination gloves
• Thoroughly washing patient’s hands with soap and water, then drying before taking a sample

A venous blood test can be done as the initial screening as well. This method should always be used to confirm elevated blood lead test results when a capillary test was used as the initial screening.

Case Management

• Case Management Guidelines
• Recommended Medical and Case Management Actions and Retest Chart

Lab Submission

The Waycross Regional Laboratory provides an analysis of blood lead specimens to Georgia children less than 72 months of age. The provider’s office should contact the laboratory to use this service. GHHLPPP does not recommend or endorse the use of another lab.

Reporting Guidelines

Laboratories attempt to test each lead specimen on the day it arrives. The reports are mailed back to providers on the same day. All laboratory data is sent monthly in electronic or paper format to GHHLPPP.

Providers should report the results of all screening and follow-up BLL tests to GHHLPPP. Because data from laboratories often do not include demographic information, complete reports from providers’ offices are very important. If reports are not complete, GHHLPPP may contact providers’ offices for missing information.

Results can be reported by:

• State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SENDSS)
• SENDSS is a web-based reporting system designed to collect information about notifiable diseases in Georgia.
  Click here for reporting instuctions. Click here for reporting speadsheet template.

Data Submission Questions? Contact: 

Yu Sun
Georgia Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
2 Peachtree Street 13th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-657-6534
Yu.Sun@dph.ga.gov

SENDSS Questions? Contact:

Angela S. Alexander
Systems Administrator, SendSS Support Team
Georgia Department of Public Health
2 Peachtree St NW 12-212
Atlanta, Ga 30303
404-657-6450
404-463-1423 (fax)
Angela.Alexander@dph.ga.gov

Page last updated 3/23/18