Blood Lead Level Guidelines

On this page:

• Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota
• Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Minnesota
• Childhood Blood Lead Case Management Guidelines for Minnesota
• Childhood Blood Lead Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Minnesota

MDH has published several guidelines to aid health care professionals and physicians in identifying lead poisoning in children and adults and how to treat it.

Blood lead screening guidelines for Minnesota

(March 2000, Revised March 2011, Revised December 2022)

The Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota were officially released in March 2000. The 2022 Revision was updated based on research and feedback from a multi-disciplinary workgroup consisting of health care and public health professionals, professional healthcare associations, and other relevant partners. These screening guidelines now recommend universal blood lead testing of all children in Minnesota at 12 AND 24 months of age, and targeted blood lead testing for children ages 25 months through seventeen years. These screening guidelines include both a three-page summary and a longer reference manual. The guidelines are endorsed by the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), Minnesota Nurse Practitioners (MNNP), Minnesota Chapter of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (MN NAPNAP), Minnesota Poison Control System, Region 5 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU), HealthPartners, UCare, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota (LPHA), Minnesota Environmental Health Association (MEHA), Sustainable Resources Center, Inc. (SRC), and East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC).

• Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota (PDF)
• Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota: Reference Manual (PDF)

Blood lead screening guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women in Minnesota

(August 2015)

In August 2015, the Minnesota Department of Health updated their “Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Minnesota”. The new guidelines are consistent with the updated Elevated Blood Lead Level (EBLL) definition of 5mcg/dL. They are designed to assist practitioners in screening and treating pregnant and breastfeeding women with elevated blood lead levels.  Exposure during pregnancy is of particular concern because lead can be passed to the developing fetus during pregnancy or to the infant during breastfeeding. These guidelines serve to ensure that both women and their children receive proper interventions and treatment to reduce lead exposure.

The guidelines are available as a convenient one page "Quick Reference" that contains reference tables and a questionnaire:

• Risk Screening Questionnaire for Pregnant Women
• Examples of Lead-Related Occupations and Industries
• Blood Lead Level (BLL) Actions for Pregnant Women

• Examples of Traditional and Alternative Remedies and Products Associated with Lead Contamination
• Recommended timing of follow-up testing for infants based on initial venous or umbilical cord blood test results

• Quick Reference Guide: Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Minnesota (PDF)
• Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Minnesota - Full Guidelines (PDF)

Childhood blood lead case management guidelines for Minnesota

(June 2001/Revised June 2006/Revised March 2011/Revised December 2017)

The Childhood Blood Lead Case Management Guidelines for Minnesota was first released in 2001. The 2017 Revision was updated based on national recommendations, changes to the elevated blood lead level definition, and input from a multi-disciplinary workgroup. In addition to the reference manual, there is also an accompanying Childhood Blood Lead Case Management Guidelines Summary, a two-page summary document for a quick verification of intervention recommendations for each blood lead level. These guidelines represent a set of best practices and recommendations for case managers working with children exposed to lead.

• Childhood Blood Lead Case Management Guidelines for Minnesota: Reference Manual (PDF)
  • Childhood Blood Lead Case Management Guidelines Summary (PDF)

Childhood blood lead clinical treatment guidelines for Minnesota

(July 2001/ Revised March 2011/ Revised October 2019)

The Childhood Blood Lead Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Minnesota were officially released in July 2001. The 2019 Revision was updated based on national recommendations, alignment with the case management guidelines, and input from a multi-disciplinary workgroup. These treatment guidelines include both a two-page summary and a longer reference manual. The 2019 Revision has been reviewed and approved by the MMA, MNAAP, MAFP, MN NAPNAP, Region 5 PEHSU, LPHA, MN Poison Control System, BCBS of MN, and UCare.

• Childhood Blood Lead Treatment Guidelines for Minnesota (PDF)
• Childhood Blood Lead Treatment Guidelines for Minnesota: Reference Manual (PDF)
• Draft Adult Blood Lead Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Minnesota (PDF) (December 2000)
  For more information about adult treatment, please see national advice from, "Recommendations for Medical Management of Adult Lead Exposure," published by Environmental Health Perspectives in December 2006.