​Standard of Care on Screening for Childhood Lead Poisoning

California statutes and regulations impose specific responsibilities on doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants doing periodic health care assessments on children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. This is a brief summary of health care providers' responsibilities. These regulations apply to all physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, not just Medi-Cal or Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) providers.

Anticipatory Guidance: Required for all children at each periodic assessment from 6 months to 6 years.

Health care providers who perform periodic health assessments for children are required to inform parents and guardians about:

If either of these mandates is missed, catch-up is required:

For children in publicly funded programs:

• If a blood lead test was not performed at 12 months of age, catch-up testing is mandated for children between 12 and 24 months of age.
  

• If a blood lead test was not performed at 24 months of age or later, catch-up testing is mandated for children between 24 and 72 months of age.
  

For children not in publicly funded programs:

• If an assessment was not performed at 12 months of age, an assessment (followed by a blood lead test, if found to be at risk) is mandated for children between 12 and 24 months of age.
  

• If an assessment was not performed at 24 months of age or later, an assessment (followed by a blood lead test, if found to be at risk) is mandated for children between 24 and 72 months of age. 
  

Other indications for a blood lead test * 

Why Assess and Screen (test)?

Read the entire code of regulations.