Professional Tests Can Uncover Exposure to Lead

Lead paint poses a real threat to your family's health, especially if you have children. Older homes are particularly at risk for lead exposure. If you live in a house more than 30 years old and haven't yet tested for lead, it's not too hard or costly to do -- and it may be well worth it.

From Consumer Reports magazine, here are some tips for how best to test for lead:

· Test your children. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood represent elevated levels of lead. But even lower levels of 5 micrograms may be a reason for concern. Your pediatrician can order a blood test to determine the level.

· If your children test positive, find a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. This person will conduct an investigation of the surfaces in your home to determine the presence of lead paint. Your regional Environmental Protection Agency office should have all the information on certified professionals in your area. See http://www.epa.gov.

· You can also hire an X-ray fluorescence technician. The XRF device measures the amount of lead on a painted surface by using radiation. But beware: XRF screening is not best for all surfaces. To be on the safe side, follow a positive XRF screening by sending a sample of the paint in your home to a lab. An XRF screening can cost about $500 for a home, and a lab testing can run about $85 per sample.

· Avoid home lead-test kits. Although the kits are inexpensive, selling for as little as $12.99, the Consumer Product Safety Commission last year said such kits are unreliable, with more than half it tested failing to detect lead when it was present.