The Hygienic Laboratory is the central testing laboratory for Iowa Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. As such, the Blood Lead section tests for the presence of lead in humans, and is the state’s reference laboratory for confirmation of all capillary lead screening results.

The primary instrument used to screen blood specimens is a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The Hygienic Laboratory also has the capability of using more sensitive multielemental techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to detect low levels of lead and other potentially toxic metals such as cadmium, arsenic and mercury from the same blood specimen. Results from these instruments are analyzed by laboratory scientists to confirm the level of lead from venous blood specimens.

Recent technological advancements in point-of-care testing allows health care providers to test blood for levels of lead. However, because of the significant public health threat from lead poisoning, the Hygienic Laboratory maintains the capability to provide both screening and confirmatory testing for IDPH.