Lead Poisoning in Children: Early Detection, Intervention and Prevention
Introduction
Welcome to the Minnesota Department of Health's online training module on the lead screening component of the Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) program. C&TC is Minnesota's Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT); a federally mandated program for child and youth who are eligible for Medicaid.
This training is collaborative effort between the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the lead agency for the C&TC program and the Minnesota Department of Health. This module is designed primarily for people who provide health services to children and families - especially providers of any or all of the components of a C&TC well child exam.
As part of a wide range of children's preventative health care services, all C&TC (MA) eligible children are required to have blood lead level (BLL) testing at 12 and 24 months. Additionally, all children over 24 months of age but less than 72 months (6 years) are required to have a BLL test if there is no record of a screening test at 24 months of age.
This module has four parts with one learning objective identified for each. The complete module will take approximately 25 minutes. It is best if you can complete the parts in order. If you wish to skip content or review previous content, you may use the navigation links in the left hand column of this page.
Learning objectives
- Part 1: State why identifying children with blood lead levels between 5 and 10 mcg/dl is important.
- Part 2: Identify the ages at which MN C&TC requires lead screening.
- Part 3: Identify the time frame for when diagnostic testing should occur depending on the child's capillary blood lead level.
- Part 4: Describe environmental and dietary steps caregivers can take to decrease lead exposure and absorption.
