What do the test results mean?
The test will identify how many micrograms of lead are found in one deciliter of the child’s blood. Based on what is known today, children should have under 10 micrograms per deciliter (10 ug/dL) of blood lead concentration. If higher levels are found, there are certain steps that can be taken. At 10-19, a child has mild lead poisoning. He or she should be retested in a few months. The home and all the places the child spends time should be checked for lead sources. Identified lead hazards should be controlled. Frequent wet cleaning and handwashing will help reduce lead dust. Good nutrition can help the child fight lead. A blood lead level between 20-44 means the child has moderate lead poisoning. Sources of lead in the child’s environment must be removed. Such a child may need chelation therapy to remove lead from the body. Chelation therapy means the child is given a drug capable of binding lead and reducing its acute toxicity. All drugs have potential side effects and must be used w
The test results you receive from the lab may be accompanied with some information to help you understand what the test results mean. For example if the samples were being tested for drinking water quality, the results may be accompanied by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, outlining the parameters that exceeded the recommended maximum allowable concentration. Information contained in manuals, booklets, and guideline publications can also be used to interpret the significance of the results for your particular application. The results may indicate either a problem with your water source or the performance of your treatment system. For your convenience this useful information has been incorporated into this program, the Rural Water Quality Information Tool (RWQIT) to allow for a quick, user friendly access to this information. RWQIT can be used to help find useful water quality related information and interpret the results you have obtained from the lab. It can compare
