Laboratory Resources

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 §124130). Information to be reported include:

Blood lead level (BLL) test result.
Demographic data about the person whose blood is being tested.
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 (CLPPB), and OLPPP receives all results for individuals aged 16 or older. These results must be reported to CDPH by the following time frame:

BLLs ≥3.5 µg/dL must be reported within 3 working days.
BLLs <3.5 µg/dL must be reported within 30 calendar days.

For questions about how to report BLLs to CDPH, please visit the CLPPB lab reporting webpage at Report Results (ca.gov).

If you have a question or issue related to adult blood lead reports, please call (510) 620-5740 or email AdultBLLLabSupport@cdph.ca.gov.

Resources

Blood lead test result reporting by laboratories (PDF) - Health and Safety Code Section 124130; Legislation requiring laboratories to report blood lead test results.
Lab Requisition for Blood Lead Testing (PDF) - Sample form for health care providers ordering BLL tests.
Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) Program - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) program of states that operate blood lead registries.