Childhood Blood Lead Medical Management Guidelines

Beginning July 1, the Indiana Department of Health is lowering the standard for an elevated blood lead level from 10 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to 3.5 µg/dL and the benchmark for beginning case management services from 10 µg/dL to 5 µg/dL. Please take note of these changes if you test children for lead or work with a lab to test blood for lead.

  • A child with a level between 3.5 and 4.9 µg/dL will be considered elevated, and a confirmatory test should be ordered if the initial test was via capillary finger prick
  • Children with confirmed blood lead levels at or above 5 µg/dL will be eligible for supportive case management through their local health department
  • Any child with an initial capillary blood lead level between 3.5 and 9.9 µg/dL should be confirmed within three months, if not sooner
  • Because there is no safe blood lead level, children with any level above zero should be retested annually

Visit our Lead and Healthy Homes Division webpage for additional information.

Read the full health alert here (PDF file).