Laboratory requirements for blood lead analysis
All laboratories that perform a blood lead analysis on blood drawn in California are required to report specified information to CDPH (California Health and Safety Code Ā§124130). Information to be reported include:
blood lead level (BLL) test result
demographic data about the person whose blood is being tested
the person's employer (if provided to analyzing laboratory)
physician who ordered the test
lab where the test was performed
Medical Providers ordering BLL tests and referring laboratories should ensure that complete information is
gathered and forwarded to the analyzing laboratory with the blood sample. Please see the sample lab requisition form for blood lead testing (PDF).
Labs report these data electronically to CDPH's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, and OLPPP receives all results for individuals aged 16 or older. These results must be reported to CDPH by the following time frame:
- BLLs ā„9.5 Āµg/dL must be reported within 3 working days
- BLLs <9.5 Āµg/dL must be reported within 30 calendar days
For questions about how to report BLLs to CDPH, please call the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch at (510) 620-5600 and ask to speak to someone about blood lead reporting.
Employers who provide blood lead testing for their employees must use OSHA approved laboratories
Important: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Lead Standards for General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1025) and Construction (29 CFR 1926.62) require employers to provide biological monitoring for workers exposed to airborne lead above the action level. Employers are required to have these samples analyzed by a laboratory which meets OSHA accuracy requirements in blood lead proficiency testing.
To obtain OSHA approval or for OSHA's list of laboratories approved for blood lead analysis, see OSHA's Blood Lead Laboratories web page.