That is why children less than six years old are more likely to get lead poisoning. Most children with elevated blood lead levels do not look or feel sick. The only way to tell if your child has lead poisoning is by having a blood lead test done. A child's doctor can take a blood sample for a blood lead test. In New York, children must be tested for lead when they are one and two years old.
Doctors also test younger or older children who are at high risk for exposure to lead.
Ask the doctor if your child has been tested, and tell your doctor if you think your child has been exposed to lead. The blood lead test is used to measure the amount of lead in the blood. Ask your child's doctor to explain the test results to you. When the Department of Health receives such reports, an environmental investigation follows in an attempt to identify possible lead hazards. Department of Health staff will attempt to work with you to determine if the child is receiving necessary medical follow-up care and provide information about ways to reduce blood lead levels.