Providers
NEW CDC blood lead reference value (BLRV)
On October 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change in its blood lead reference value (BLRV) from ≥ 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) to ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL. The CDC BLRV is used to identify children with higher levels of lead in their blood compared to most children. Children with blood lead levels at or above the BLRV represent those at the top 2.5% with the highest blood lead levels.
The CDC recommends healthcare providers follow-up BLLs ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL (the new BLRV), and California Department of Public Health encourages healthcare providers to provide retesting and follow-up for blood lead levels ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL.
The California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch is working to update the California Management Guidelines to incorporate this change.
For additional information, please visit CLPPB’s Updated CDC Blood Lead Reference Value web page.
If you have any questions or would like to order educational materials regarding lead poisoning prevention, please feel free to contact SJC CLPPP at 209.468.2593 or email at PHS-CLPPP@sjcphs.org.
2020 Preventive Services Report Addendum
- DHCS contracted HSAG, to develop this Addendum. It presents the DHCS-calculated Blood Lead Screening (BLS) rates, which were calculated in accordance with California Title 17 requirements.
- This Addendum reports rates for four BLS indicators for reporting year 2020/measurement year 2019.
Number of Individual Children Screened for Lead, 2020
Clinical Signs & Symptoms (click here)
Recent Events and Releases (click here)
Lead Poisoning Overview
Most lead-poisoned children are asymptomatic. If present, symptoms typically are nonspecific complaints, such as stomachache, irritability, headache, fatigue, or loss of appetite. The only way to diagnose lead poisoning is to obtain a blood lead level (BLL).
Source of Lead Poisoning:
| Lead Source Handout | English | Spanish | Hindi
Pashto | Punjabi | Urdu |
| Home Remedies: Has your child been treated for stomachache? | English | Spanish |
| Lead in paint | English | Spanish |
| Lead In dirt | English | Spanish |
| Pottary Flyer: Do You Cook with Traditional Pottary? | English | Spanish |
| Lead In Traditional Ceremics | English | Spanish |
| Surma Informational flyer | English | Urdu |
Standard of Care Guidelines
California Management Guidelines
POS Blood Lead Testing
For more information and resources for Health Care Providers please visit the state website.
Information