DeWitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department provides capillary lead testing. While lead exposure can affect anyone, children are at highest risk for experiencing its detrimental effects because their bodies are smaller and still developing. Children ages 2 years old and younger are the highest priority for evaluation and testing due to brain development and frequent hand to mouth activity (such as putting toys in their mouth or sucking their thumb that could have picked up lead dust from a source in their immediate living environment). All children ages 6 and under are required to be evaluated for lead exposure risks by their physician and tested if necessary. The Illinois Lead Program recommends all children be evaluated or tested as indicated at ages 12 months and 24 months, and 3, 4,5, and 6 years of age.  (source: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-poisoning-prevention.html)  All capillary blood lead tests with a result of 3.5 or more will need to be followed up with a confirming venous blood lead test by a primary care provider.  

Under Illinois law, any child residing in a high-risk ZIP code is to be tested automatically at 12 and 24 months. All children six years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure through the use of a questionnaire administered by a pediatrician. In addition, children who fall into other risk categories spelled out in the questionnaire are also tested.

High-risk ZIP codes are determined through an algorithm that assesses a number of different risk factors.  To find out if your zip code is included please check this website: High Risk Zip Codes

For more information or to make an appointment please contact us at 217-935-3427 (DeWitt County office) or 217-762-7911 (Piatt County office).

Other helpful websites:

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding - https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-poisoning-prevention/pregnancy-and-lead/lead-testing-recommendations-for-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding.html 

Families of Lead Exposed Children - https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-poisoning-prevention/families-of-lead-exposed-children.html

Lead Case Management - https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-poisoning-prevention

Click here for a childhood lead risk questionnaire

Click here for the Lead Source Guide from IDPH