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Observational study of erythrocyte protoporphyrin screening test for detecting low lead exposure in children: Impact of lowering the blood lead action threshold

Journal Article · · Clinical Chemistry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); (USA)
OSTI ID:5889429
; ;  [1]
  1. New York State Department of Health, Albany (USA)
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We examined a retrospective sample of 1800 children on whom both erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and blood lead (BPb) measurements were taken. The primary objective was to ascertain whether EP is a cost-effective screening test for low but increased BPb concentrations and to establish the optimal thresholds. The data did not provide evidence of an EP threshold at low BPb concentrations; however, the data did show a significant age effect. A subset of 500 children for whom both EP and hematocrit data were available showed no correlation between those variables. Age-specific operating characteristic curves, total error, and cost analyses are presented. The latter sets bounds on the relative cost of EP testing, above which only BPb determination should be performed. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of impending changes in U.S. federal guidelines for preventing lead poisoning in young children.

OSTI ID:
5889429
Journal Information:
Clinical Chemistry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); (USA), Journal Name: Clinical Chemistry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); (USA) Vol. 37:2; ISSN 0009-9147; ISSN CLCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD COUNT
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHILDREN
DATA COVARIANCES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ERYTHROCYTES
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
METABOLISM
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PORPHYRINS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SCREENING
STATISTICS