What is a blood lead test?
There is a type of blood test that measures the amount of lead in your body...A high level of lead in the body indicates lead poisoning.
Read more about blood lead level testing in this GCORP LLC article.
Blood lead level
Who needs a blood lead test?
Children's lead levels should be checked when children are suspected of being exposed to lead or when local guidelines require blood lead testing. Children are usually tested between ages 1 and 3.
Adults and children at risk of lead poisoning should be tested.
High-risk groups include the following:
- low income families
- Life in big cities
- Living in old houses, especially houses built before 1360
Exposure to some substances also increases the risk of lead poisoning.
Sources of lead exposure include:
- Soil and water exposed to lead paint, gasoline additives or lead pipes
- lead paint and glaze
- Cosmetics, jewelry and imported clothes
- Contaminated food
- Artificial sports fields
- Folk and non-scientific treatments using Azarkun and Greta
- Working in facilities related to melting materials
- Working in the automotive repair or construction industry
Why is the blood lead test done?
Blood lead level testing is done to investigate lead poisoning.... In the early stages, lead poisoning usually does not cause symptoms... For this reason, routine testing of lead-exposed children and adults is essential.
Lead poisoning in children can lead to the following:
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Speech, language and attention deficits
- Lack of growth
- Hearing loss
- Headache
- Anemia which is the result of reduction of red blood cells
- Sleep problems
- Seizures
- Weight loss
- fatigue Abdominal pain and vomiting
In adults, lead poisoning can lead to:
- Abortion or premature birth
- Infertility
- Headache
- Pain and tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Muscle and joint pain
- High blood pressure
- memory loss
- Seizures
- Coma
- Mood changes
- Change in the functioning of the mind
If you have already been diagnosed with lead poisoning, your doctor may order a blood test to check your lead level..
What happens during a blood lead level test?
A blood test to check your lead level may be done at your doctor's office or medical laboratory. This test is also called a blood draw or venipuncture.
To start, the health care provider cleans the area where the blood will be drawn with an antiseptic to prevent infection. Blood is usually drawn from a vein in the elbow or the back of the hand. The health care provider ties an elastic band around your arm. your arm It will be removed....when the doctor has finished drawing the blood, the needle will be removed from your body....the injection site will be bandaged....you will need to apply pressure to the injection site to prevent bleeding and bruising....you may still feel a pulse around the wound area, which will go away within a few minutes to a few hours.
Blood drawing may cause mild to moderate pain.. Most people report a burning sensation or mild pain... Relaxing the arm during the blood draw can help reduce the amount of pain.
Dangers associated with blood lead testing
The risk of drawing blood is low... Possible risks include:
- Multiple wounds caused by needles. Because of the difficulty in finding the vein
- Excessive bleeding
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting
- Hematoma, which is a collection of blood under the skin
- infection
Final speech
[sibwp_form id=5]
Was this article helpful to you?