Lead Poisoning Prevention for Health Care Providers

Last updated 10/1/2026.

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Per California Code of Regulations Title 17, health care providers are mandated to regularly assess and screen California's children, including:

Anticipatory Guidance

At each periodic assessment from 6 months to 6 years all health care providers are required to inform all parents and guardians about:

  • The risks and effects of childhood lead exposure.
  • The requirement that children enrolled in Medi-Cal receive blood lead tests.
  • The requirement that children not enrolled in Medi-Cal who are at high risk of lead exposure receive blood lead tests.

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Screen (Blood Lead Test)

  • All children in publicly supported programs such as Medi-Cal, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) should receive a blood lead test at both 12 months and 24 months of age.
  • Perform a "catch up" test for children age 24 months to 6 years in a publicly supported program who were not tested at 12 and 24 months.

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Assess

Use the Lead Exposure Questionnaire screening tool to assess potential lead exposure risk among children. 

  • A “Yes” or “Unknown” response indicates the need for a venous blood lead level.

If a child is not in a publicly supported program, order a blood lead test if a change in circumstance has put the child at risk for lead exposure.

  • Other indications for a blood lead test:
    • Parental request
    • Sibling, playmate, or other close contact has an increased blood lead level
    • Suspected lead exposure
    • History of living in or visiting a country with high levels of environmental lead

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Resources

County of San Diego

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

 

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Contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 619-692-8487 or send an e-mail for more information.