114 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2025 Testing your children and yourself can be helpful preventive measures against lead poisoning. Testing for Lead Exposure Consider talking to your pediatrician about testing your keiki for levels of lead in their bloodstream. Even low levels of lead can be harmful and should be taken seriously. According to the CDC, there are two types of blood collection tests. The first, and most minimally invasive test, is a Capillary sample when a finger or heal-prick is used to test the blood. Capillary tests are helpful, but not always accurate and can result in false positives. The second option is a Venous sample which includes taking a blood sample directly from the patient’s vein. Although the Venous sample is more invasive, the test is often more accurate than the fingerprick. At-home test kits can help determine if your keiki is being exposed to lead. These tests are most useful to those living in homes built before 1978, when lead paint became illegal. These test kits are available and useful for those worried that their home may contain lead. It should be mentioned however, that these tests are not always fully accurate. There are also at-home kits for testing lead in soil. At home test kits are useful but for the most accurate results consider hiring a professional. Dietary and Cleaning Recommendations Your keiki’s diet also has an impact on how much they absorb lead into their body. The CDC’s current guidelines recommend eating nutrient-rich foods such as those that have iron, vitamin C, and calcium to help slow down lead absorption and contribute to an overall healthy immune system. “Testing yourself, home, and children, can be extremely helpful in avoiding the dangerous effects of contact with lead.”
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