Several unique issues are important for the medical laboratory professional to remember regarding lead level collection and processing.
- All abnormally high blood lead levels should be confirmed via repeat collection and testing.
- If a capillary blood collection is done for a simple lead screening, all positive results must be followed up with venous blood lead level testing.
- All blood lead levels must be collected in lead-free collection tubes (e.g., EDTA tan-top tubes, royal blue-top EDTA tubes).
- Alcohol should be used to cleanse the skin prior to collection to remove any lead on the skin surface.
- Laboratory regulations set by the federal government mandate that venous blood lead level testing has an error rate of ± 4 µg/dL or 10%, whichever is larger.
