Section 216-RICR-50-15-3.4 - Childhood Lead Poisoning Screening3.4.1 General RequirementsA. Health care providers shall ensure that childhood lead poisoning screening is conducted either by venipuncture or by capillary blood lead sampling in accordance with the following requirements: 1. Screening Schedule Rhode Island children shall be screened for lead poisoning at least twice, at least twelve (12) months apart, and before the age of thirty-six (36) months. For additional information on screening for lead poisoning see the Screening and Referral Guidelines on the Department's website.2. Screening Samples a. All blood lead screening and blood lead confirmatory samples submitted to the Department's laboratory for analysis must be accompanied by a completed laboratory requisition form, including all data necessary for reimbursement by health insurers, and must be packaged in accordance with procedures established by the Department's laboratory.b. All blood lead screening samples must be submitted to the Department's laboratory for analysis, unless the Department has approved the use of another laboratory.c. All results of blood lead screening performed by any other laboratory must be reported to the Department in an electronic format specified by the Department.3. Confirmatory Samples a. All blood lead confirmatory samples must be sent to a clinical laboratory licensed by the Department to perform routine chemistry analysis of blood.b. All results of confirmatory blood lead testing must be reported to the Department in an electronic format specified by the Department.4. Samples Submitted to Department Laboratory All blood lead screening and blood lead confirmatory samples submitted to the Department's laboratory for analysis must be accompanied by a completed laboratory requisition form, including all data necessary for reimbursement by health insurers, and must be packaged in accordance with procedures established by the Department's laboratory.
3.4.2Fees for Childhood Lead Poisoning Screening Fees for blood lead screening are included in the Department's Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title).3.4.3Reporting of Cases of Childhood Lead PoisoningA. Any person employed as or by a health care provider who makes the diagnosis of childhood lead poisoning shall report such diagnosis to the Department within ten (10) days of the diagnosis using a reporting method approved by the Department.B. Use of the Department's laboratory, or other Department-approved laboratory, shall constitute compliance with these reporting requirements.216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-50-15-3.4
Amended effective 1/2/2022