Lead Information for Local Health Departments
- Forms
- State Home Visit Form (Bilingual)
- Risk Assessment/Home Visit Refusal Form
- Risk Assessment/Home Visit Refusal Form (Spanish)
- Laboratory Reporting Form
- This form is only used for individual, single use reporting of blood lead test results. See Options for Blood Lead Level Reporting to IDOH
- Specimen Testing and Reporting Requirements
Reporting Requirements
- Indiana statute (410 IAC 29-3-1) requires that ALL blood lead tests, REGARDLESS OF RESULTS are required to be reported to IDOH by the entity examining the specimen (i.e. Laboratory, Clinic, Physician, etc.) not later than one (1) week after completing the test.
- The IDOH Lead and Healthy Homes Division can accept blood lead level testing results through HL7 messaging OR direct entry into the Lead Data Flow (LDF) database and beginning January 1, 2023, through the Children and Hoosier Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP)
Direct Entry:
- Lead Data Flow (LDF): Blood lead level test results can be entered directly into LDF electronic gateway portal. An account will be created for each person that reports test results. See below for instructions regarding creating an account.
- Children and Hoosier Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP): EFFECTIVE 1/1/2023 Providers can enter blood lead test results directly into CHIRP as a means for submitting results to IDOH. Entered test results remain editable after submission. Contact the CHIRP Help Desk at 1-888-227-4439 for problems accessing CHIRP. Contact Sky Kolan at skolan@health.in.gov with other questions.
- Options and instructions for signing up for electronic reporting into LDF and through HL7 messaging are found here.
- Contact Hazarath Thanneeru (hthanneeru@health.in.gov) with questions about blood lead level reporting or signing up for electronic reporting
- Additional information is found here.
- IDOH can also accept test results through secure fax or secure email, but this method is not recommended as the best option for submitting blood lead level testing results and should be considered a temporary or short-term option for submitting results. Per 410 IAC 29-3-1(b) any provider or lab submitting more than 50 results per year will be required to report electronically.
- Laboratory Reporting Form - This form is only used for individual, single-use reporting of blood lead test results sent via fax to IDOH.
Testing Requirements
- Universal Screening (Testing): On March 10, 2022, Governor Holcomb signed House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1313 into law requiring health care providers to confirm that children under 7 have been tested for lead, and if not, to offer this testing to the parent or guardian of that child. Children should receive a blood lead test between 9 and 13 months, or as close as reasonably possible, and again between 21 and 27 months of age, or as close as reasonably possible. Any child between 28 and 72 months with no record of a previous blood lead test must have one as soon as possible.
- Medicaid Recipient Testing: Indiana statute requires that ALL children enrolled in Medicaid are to receive a blood lead level test at 12 and 24 months of age. Any child between 24 and 72 months with no record of a previous blood lead screening test must receive one.
- Refugee Infants and Children Testing: All refugee infants and children up to age 16, particularly refugee and internationally adopted children, should be evaluated with a blood test for lead exposure at the domestic medical screening visit. Repeat blood lead testing for all refugee infants and children >= 6 years of age, regardless of initial screening BLL results is to be done within 3-6 months after initial testing.
IDOH State Laboratory Testing & Supply Ordering
*Beginning 5/31/22 Blood Lead Test Kits and lab supplies will be ordered directly from the IDOH Laboratory through LimsNet, a web-based sample submission system, rather than from the IDOH Lead and Healthy Homes Program. The LimsNet sign in location is found here; https://eportal.isdh.in.gov/limsnet/login.aspx . If assistance is needed, please visit the LIMS Helpdesk at LimsAppSupport@isdh.in.gov.
- To use LimsNet, a submitter must also sign up for a Access Indiana account. To sign up for a Access Indiana account, please visit https://www.in.gov/access/ .
- Supply ordering information is available on the blood lead test order page.
Available publications and brochures will continue to be ordered from the Lead and Healthy Homes program. See Resources & Educational Materials section.
- The analysis of blood lead specimens and the ordering of lead testing and shipping supplies are available to participating physicians FREE of charge from the IDOH State Laboratory.
- IDOH Indiana State Laboratory Blood Lead Specimen Collection and Shipping Guidance
- IDOH Indiana State Laboratory Blood Lead Specimen Collection and Shipping Guidance for WIC Program Participation
- All Indiana Department of Health Lead (Pb) Sample Submission Forms can be found in I-Lead.
- If you do not have access to I-Lead, contact Hazarath Thaneeru (hthanneeru@isdh.in.gov)
- Guidance Documents
- I-Lead New Case Entry Guide
- Lead Exposure Resource Guide
- A guide for public health agencies to assist with the processes and planning for assessing needs and coordinating a response to incidences of large-scale human exposures to lead and lead-containing products should they occur in a community.
- Case Management and Risk Assessment Information
Case Management
- Childhood Blood Lead Level Care and Action Case Management Guidelines (aka "the Rainbow Chart") EFFECTIVE: October 1, 2022
- Lead Case Management Online Training Available:
“Lead Case Management Training – Indiana”- The overall goal of the free two-module course, located on Indiana Train (INTrain), is to provide an alternate option for the required lead case management training concerning the protocols and procedures for case management services of children with elevated blood lead levels. In person training continues to be available, is preferred, and should be the first option used. However, if circumstances require it, completing this course (Modules 1 and 2) AND making contact with the Lead and Healthy Homes Health Educator, Sue Henry, will satisfy the training requirement. Contact Sue Henry at shenry@health.in.gov or 317-232-8608. Sue can also be contacted for questions and to schedule in person trainings at your health department.
- Instructions found here for steps on how to:
1) Create a INTrain account,
2) Register for the Lead Case Management Training – Indiana course,
3) Take the "Lead Case Management Training – Indiana" course
Risk Assessment
- Lead Protection Program Homeowners/Renters Application
- The Lead Protection Program is a partnership between the IDOH and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) that offers homeowners/renters opportunities for FREE services to help test and eliminate lead-based paint hazards from their home. Homeowners/renters in a variety of locations around the state are eligible. Those locations include residents living in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Muncie, and Evansville, as well as all of Marion County. More information about the program and the application can be found here and here.
- I-Lead New Case Entry Guide
- Resources and Educational Materials
- Lead Informational/Educational Publications Available to Order from IDOH
- Brochures/Publications can be ordered free of charge by Local Health Departments from the Lead and Healthy Homes Program using the Supply Order Form. Availability and quantities may be limited.
Additional Resources and Educational Tools
For Families (All documents available to print and are also available to be ordered through “Publications Order Form”)
- IDOH Brochure (Bilingual)
- IDOH Fact Sheet (Bilingual)
- Radon: A brief guide on how to keep your home and family safe from radon
- Radon: Keep your home safe from radon
- Radon One Page Resource: Contains links to multiple publications
Pregnancy (All documents available to print and are also available to be ordered through “Publications Order Form”)
- Prenatal Risk Evaluation Questions for Lead Exposure (English)
- Prenatal Risk Evaluation Questions for Lead Exposure (Spanish)
- Lead and Pregnancy Infographic (English)
- Lead and Pregnancy Infographic (Spanish)
Nutrition
- Well Fed Means Less Lead (English) (Available to be ordered through “Publications Order Form”)
- Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet (English)
- Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet (Spanish)
- Protect Against Lead Exposure with WIC Foods
Lead Testing Instructional Phlebotomy Videos:
CDC Lead Testing Video: Learning How to Reduce the Risk of Contamination and Achieve Accurate Results
- Lead Informational/Educational Publications Available to Order from IDOH
- Policy Information
Indiana Lead Rules
- 410 IAC 29 - Indiana Lead Rule for Reporting, Monitoring, and Preventive Procedures for an Elevated Blood Lead Level (Case Management Rule) - Final Rule
Beginning October 1, 2022, the Final Rule becomes effective.
The final rule updates definitions and other important guidelines used for lead case management, including lowering the standard for an elevated blood lead level and the benchmark for beginning case management services.
- Title 410 IAC 29 Emergency Rule - Expires October 1, 2022 when the final rule becomes effective.
- 410 IAC 29 – Indiana Lead Rule for Reporting, Monitoring, and Preventive Procedures for Lead Poisoning (Previous Rule amended by final rule that was effective October 1, 2022)
- 410 IAC 32 – Indiana Lead-Based Paint Program (Lead-based Paint Rule)
Compliance with HIPAA
- HIPAA Compliance: English version
- HIPAA Compliance: Espanol
Questions about HIPAA?
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- IDOH Compliance Officer, Eliza Bradley ebradley@isdh.in.gov.