What is a lead screening and how does it work?

Question

Do you think it's necessary? My little one hates going to the doc. Especially now during the flu season.

Answer 1

A lead screening is done usually by a simple finger prick and indicates whether or not your child has significant levels of lead in the blood. This is much more important to have done if your child has ever or currently lives in a house built before the 70's, plays with dirt frequently and may have gotten it in the mouth (lead is often in the dirt from various sources). My family doctor tests for this at an infant's 9 month check up. Lead poisoning is very serious and can cause severe mental disabilites so it's important that if you have any risk factors you have your child tested. Once the damage has been done, it can't be undone. Here is a website about it for you:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lead-poisoning/FL00068

I am a former special education paraeducator and have seen first hand the damage it can do, and it's heartbreaking to think it could be prevented :)

Answer 2

It is a blood test. They check for lead levels in the blood, high levels of lead can cause development problems and retardation. It does need to be done, but you can delay it for a couple more weeks until flu season is over.

Answer 3

If you are living in an older building that may have been reno'ed at one time there could be traces of lead in the air or heaven forbid still on the walls.Lead paint was common until the early 70's, most baby furniture was painted with leadbased paint, thus the plastic rail on top of the bars. so a lot of buildings still have it. even the soil around the house can be contaminated. So yes its inconvenient, but could save your child's life if he has lead in his system. it involves taking a blood sample.

Answer 4

At one year, they get a little blood test (on their finger), and you get the results a few weeks later in the mail.

The check to see if your baby has lead in his blood.

The one year checkup is a doozie; They will probably give him at least 4 or 5 vaccinations, plus the lead testing.

Two of the vaccines can cause reactions, so be on the lookout 3 days after, and 1-2 weeks after, for a fever, or a rash.

Answer 5

It's a blood test, you'll have to get the baby's blood drawn. No biggie and it's over before you know it. My kids have allergies and have blood tests, so they're used to it by now. If you stay calm they are less stressed, so chill out.

I put my baby in their baby bjorn carrier (on my chest) to keep him from wiggling too much. They had me sit down in a chair at the lab with him on my lap. I held his arm in place so they could get blood out of his arm. Sure he got mad as hell, but it's over before you know it, and he calmed down very quickly.