Blood Lead Test Reporting to the Douglas County Health Dept.

As of July 1997, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure/Control of Communicable Disease/Regulations requires the reporting of ALL blood lead tests under Title 173 Chapter 1. Revisions went into effect 1-28-01.

As the designated local health department for Douglas County, reports of blood lead levels from your facility need to be made to:

Douglas County Health Department (DCHD)

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)

1819 Farnam St. Room 401

Omaha, NE 68183-0401

Attn: Reid Steinkraus, supervisor rsteinkr@co.douglas.ne.us

Kathy Leinenkugel, program coordinator kleinenk@co.douglas.ne.us

Phone: (402)444-7825 Fax: (402)444-6267

The following laboratories currently report lead results to DCHD CLPPP:

Public Health Lab/Regional Lab at Nebraska Health System

Creighton Medical Lab at St. Joseph

Physicians Laboratory

Quest

ARUP (report made to Nebraska HHSS)

Smith Kline Beecham

Medtox

DCHD CLPPP has set up reporting protocols with these laboratories to capture results and demographics as required under state law. Please note 1-004.01C3 and 1-004.02C2 regarding minimum demographic information required in reporting. Remember - the lab can not report address or racial/ethnic information if the health care provider that obtains the specimen does not provide it to the lab. If possible, also include the parent/guardian name, phone number, and language preference if known to facilitate case management.

DCHD requires all physicians and clinics to provide demographic information on patients tested for lead directly to DCHD CLPPP unless the required information is provided to a laboratory named above, which will forward the information to DCHD CLPPP. This information can be sent to DCHD CLPPP using Attachment A, Attachment B, copies of the lab requisition or report, or by another form or method approved by DCHD CLPPP that includes all the required demographics. Contact DCHD CLPPP at the above number to make arrangements for reporting from your practice.

Note: Although reporting is due weekly, delays in the system have caused results to be reported up to two months after the date of testing. If you have a child with a venous blood lead level over 15 ug/dL, please call our office as soon as possible to initiate follow-up by our program in a timely manner.