Blood Lead Levels

Reportable by Providers and Laboratories

About this Reportable Disease

Infectious Agent: N/A

Description of Illness: Lead poisoning is a serious environmental threat to children’s health. There is no safe blood lead level. Elevated blood lead levels can impact the central nervous system, affect the body’s production of hemoglobin, and interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium. Life-long effects, such as lowered IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems can result from even low levels of lead exposure; rarely, seizures, coma and death have been reported with very high lead levels. Lead can be ingested or inhaled, and routes of exposure include contaminated air, water, soil, food, or consumer products. Most children encounter lead in their own homes, as a result of exposure to lead-based paint, which was routinely used in homes until banned by the federal government in 1978. All blood lead levels (normal and elevated) are reportable to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Lead Screening/Testing Provider Submission Instructions | TDH

Provider Toolkit | UTK

Lead Poisoning Screening Guidelines | TDH

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention |TDH

Surveillance Data

Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public

Who Should be Screened?

Children at 12 and 24 months old*
Children 36-72 months old without a documented blood lead level*
Children whose parent/guardian requests a blood lead level.
Children whose parent/guardian answers “yes” or “don’t know” to any questions on the risk assessment used at well-child checks between 6-72 months of age or when child’s risk status changes.
All foreign-born children (such as recent immigrants, refugees, and international adoptees) should be screened for elevated blood lead levels within 90 days of arrival into the United States. Screening should be repeated 3-6 months later after placed in permanent residence for children 6 months to 6 years of age.

*Required for all TennCare recipients