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In-Office Blood Lead Testing
As of November 5, 2012, Maine law 
allows approved providers to perform in-office blood lead testing of children under age 6 years using a CLIA-waived, direct-read blood lead analyzer and to electronically report all test results to the Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. (Read the rules related to the law. )
The intent of the law is to increase blood lead testing of children under age 6 years.- Currently, the only CLIA-waived, in-office, direct-read blood lead testing device is the LeadCare II
, made by Magellan Diagnostics. - Providers must have approval from the Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program before they can begin in-office testing. The purpose of the approval is to ensure 1) that in-office blood lead testing will remove barriers to testing; and, 2) that providers using in-office testing will be able to have complete, timely, and electronic reporting of all test results directly to Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
- All elevated blood lead levels still require a venous confirmation through the State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. See our Capillary Lead Test Confirmation Schedule for more information.
- For questions about the law, approval process, or data reporting requirements, contact: Sandra Dempsey, Nurse Education Consultant, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Unit, 207-287-8671 or sandra.dempsey@maine.gov.
Get information about provider approval: criteria, application process, etc.
Read about data reporting requirements for in-office blood lead testing.
