Lead test?

With all the recent recalls, I have been a little concerned about the girls. They didnt have any of the recalled toys, but hey I am a mother, I worry So we went to our 18 month check up this past Friday and I brought it up with the doctor. She said it was a tiny finger prick irso if I wanted to, I could have one done. So I decided to go ahead, better to be safe then sorry, right? WRONG!

So we wait over an hour in the hospital for a lab tech to come get us. The girls are not happy, Kaytlin is screaming b/c Alivea has a container of cheerios that she thinks she should have and of course Alivea wasnt giving them up anytime soon and that is all Kaytlin wanted....So anyways, we are finally called back to do the blood test...We go into this tiny little room and the tech comes out with an IV line and 2 HUGE vials. I asked her, you dont do a finger prick...Of course they dont!!!

Well I knew the girls would not sit still long enough to fill this vial up and I could see them flailing with this needle in their arm so I said no way! Then another tech says they can do the finger stick but then they have to fill up 2 smaller vials each and they would have to prick almost all of their fingers!!! I declined and we didnt get the test done..

Did you have your kids tested and if so, how did they do it? I thought I saw on the news where it was just a drop of blood and then it is run through a machine?? Their doctor said that I could go to the health dept and have one done for free but I pay for good insurance and I want it done through them.....

*Sorry for any typos, I just got a new computer and the keyboard is really weird

 

We are required to have lead and iron test done at 1 and 2 years of age and they draw blood from the vein for this. I will have the twins blood draw in a week of so after their birthday this weekend.

 

Unless you live in an old house with lead paint or your kids have been chewing on bullets, I see no reason at all to have them tested. I find it strange that a doctor would even recommend a lead test if your kids have no risk factors for it. If I were you, I'd forget about it.

 

Our doctor never mentioned it. I would certainly have it done if I thought there was any reason for it, but it sounds pretty traumatic.

 

We had to have it done before entering preschool, otherwise no, I wouldn't have done it. Really, it sounds like the lab didn't know how to collect blood from a small child. They also had to have an IV stick, but it was over pretty quickly. Ainsley has to get blood drawn every three months for her thyroid condition, so I'm probably more used to seeing my baby get stuck with a needle than most parents.

 

Same as Rachel above. NY requires lead tests at 1yo and 2yo. I took my girls to the lab both times and it was as if I was giving blood. When they were 1 the tech took the blood and filled the vials they needed to and neither of my girls made a peep. This year DH and I each had to hold them really tight so that they would not move and that is how they took the blood. I felt really bad about this butit had to be done.

Both times that we did this we took the girls to the Quest lab on the weekend as early as we could get there. The earlier the quieter it is. And it is usually quieter on a weekday morning but DH was not able to take the time for that.

 

Mine had to have it done around age 1, I'm fairly certain that here in CT you are required to do it by State law. It was a finger prick, they only had to prick one finger, but MY GOD what an ordeal. It took forever to fill the vial (there could have been more than one, I don't really remember) and they were squeezing drops of blood out of their tiny finger for what seemed like ages!! They screamed the whole time, of course. It was unpleasant that's for sure!

 

We had it done at 15 months I think. It's a routine test as part of their checkup. Mine got a venous stick b/c I think the finger prick thing is so long and drawn out squeezing the blood out one drop at a time!

 

Nope, none of my 3 kids have ever been tested for lead, and the ped has never brought it up.

On my oldest DD's kindergarten form last year there were certain zip codes in our county that if you lived in one of those you would have to have it done prior to entering K, but we don't live in one of them.

 

Wow, that sounds horrendous (being a needlephob myself). My ped suggested it at 15 months. I usually am quite sceptical about all the tests they want to do and decline a lot. This one I had done as we were renting in a house with peeling paint and I was worried. It was only a finger prick and over very quickly. I wouldn't have done it if it involved an IV. I would either go to another doc or not bother if you don't have any specific worries.

 

My girls had it done at 1yr, state required. They had a finger prick and had to fill up 5 circles on a card, the card was sent off to be tested. Then after all the recalls I had then tested a second time at 15 months (I worry way to much ) and the second time they got blood drawn through a vein, filled one vials each. Both time my girls did great, they're way to curious and observant.

 

My girls have had it done, since my FIL is a plumber therefore, possible exposure. We went early in the morning to have it done, so that the wait was short. With Quest Labs, you can make an appointment, and bypass the walk-ins. Check with your State's Health department to see if it is mandatory.

 

We get ours done between 9-12mths. It is with a needle in the arm. The girls did ok, they cried and wiggled but they got it done. Thankfully my dh went with me or it would have been more of a problem since we had to wait a long time too. If you can I would suggest you bring someone with you to help you out. I had to hold one while they were getting their blood drawn and my dh held the other while waiting her turn. Now we just got our sons test done and he whinned a little when they put the needle in and when they pulled it out but while it was in he just sat there. I think he cried when he took the band aid off in the car on the way home.

 

ped never suggested it and it never occured to me to ask - so no they were never tested

 

Mine had it done as routine at their 12 mo. checkup. It was through IV and they did awesome. I was the one who was a mess. I would definately rethink it and get it done. You never know!

 

My kids were lead tested at their 9 month appt. I wasn't give a choice they just did it and checked their iron as well.

 

Oh crap, :fool: I just remembered that my pedi gave me the requests to have their lead tests done at their 1 yr appt. I totally forgot about it, and they go back for their 15 month check up tomorrow. Hope he's not mad at me!!! The pedi did recommend it for us becasue our house was built in 1920. They have had to have blood drawn from the vein a couple of other times and it was horrible, I suspect this one will be no different!

 

We had it done at their 18 mos. check-up. They just did a finger prick and those little tube vials that suck up the blood.

 

Mine were all tested at their 12 month check up. We have some really old homes and such in our area. I think it's a requirement.