Should my child get a blood test for lead?

A simple blood test shows whether lead has got into someone's body. Ask your child's doctor for one. Children on Medicaid are required to be tested at ages 1 and 2, and many states, including New York, require it for every child. If your child is older or missed a test, ask anyway.

If you're pregnant, tell your doctor about your water and ask whether you should be tested too. Lead matters most for babies, young children and pregnancy, because it can affect how a child's brain develops.