These locations include healthcare clinics, mobile health units and schools.
The FDA says in a statement that the expansion will allow children and adults to be tested and treated for lead poisoning much easier and faster.
Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., acting commissioner, Food and Drugs, says, "Broader availability and easier access to this test means healthcare providers will have more opportunities to test for lead exposure in the community and detect and treat people earlier, before the damaging effects of lead poisoning occur."
He adds, "FDA's expansion of the test's availability bolsters ongoing efforts to reach populations at greatest risk for lead poisoning and to expand testing inside communities. This may be particularly true for young children and inner city residents who may face obstacles accessing healthcare."
The test, called the LeadCare II Blood Lead Test System, is used to screen children and adults for harmful levels of lead using a finger stick or venous whole blood sample.
It is performed while the patient is present, in as little as three minutes. The rapid result means a second sample for further testing can be obtained quickly if needed, reducing the need for a follow-up visit.
Currently, the test is only available at certain hospitals, private and public health laboratories, and other testing facilities with the capability of performing moderate- and high-complexity testing.
Patients whose results are borderline or positive must make a second appointment with their doctor for follow-up testing. The FDA says that patients fail to do so, and doctors sometimes have difficulty reaching patients to give them their results or to discuss treatment options.
Lead poisoning in children typically results from ingesting dust from deteriorating lead-based paint or drinking water from corroding plumbing. Lead poisoning can result in headaches, stomach cramps, fatigue, memory loss, high blood pressure, and seizures.
Lead poisoning in children has been linked to learning disabilities and developmental delays.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 300,000 children under age six each year have blood levels that exceed 10 milligrams per deciliter, the threshold used to indicate lead poisoning.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that 24 million homes in the United States have significant lead-based paint hazards.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates one out of four homes with children under age six has lead contamination. The CDC and AAP have issued recommendations for screening children at ages one and two who live in high-risk homes.
