CRITERIA FOR LEAD MOBILIZATION TESTING.

Children with a blood lead concentration of 25 to 55 micrograms/dl and an erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) level of 35 micrograms/dl or higher are defined as being at moderate risk for lead poisoning. The CDC recommends a lead mobilization test (LMT) for such children, involving the timed collection of urine to identify those who warrant chelation treatment for lead toxicity. Because the LMT urine collection may be difficult to perform, these researchers sought to simplify the current guidelines.

Researchers administered an eight-hour diagnostic LMT and repeat blood lead and EP determinations to 178 children one to seven years old who initially met the above criteria. All 25 children with blood lead concentrations below 25 micrograms/dl had n…