How often should children be tested for lead if they do not have an elevated blood lead level?
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that children at high risk for lead poisoning should be tested again at 24 months if their blood lead test at 12 months was normal. In Illinois, children who live in a high-risk area, or who take part in a public assistance program like Medicaid or Kidcare are at high risk for lead poisoning and should be tested again at 24 months of age. Children who live in a low-risk area (or zip code) should be tested again at 24 months old only if their healthcare provider thinks they are at high risk for lead poisoning. In Chicago, all infants are required to be tested for lead when they are 6 or 9 months old. If their blood lead levels are normal, they should be tested again every six months until they are 24 months old, and then once a year until they’re six years old.
