October 24th-30th, 2021 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

 

 

Welcome to the Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (LHHCLPPP)

 

The Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is a program of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health. Our program’s goals are to:

  • eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Louisiana
  • ensure that all healthcare providers test children under the age of six for lead in their blood 
  • reduce or eliminate lead in the home by testing homes and properties for lead hazards
  • coordinate care for children affected by lead poisoning

 

Healthcare and social service providers, caregivers and families, and contractors and property owners all play a role in keeping Louisiana's children safe from lead poisoning. Browse the options below to find out what you need to know about lead, and what steps you can take to prevent lead poisoning.
 

 

 

About Us
Here you'll find information on our services and how to apply for them, how we're funded, where our services are located via an interactive map, and how to contact us. 

 

For Healthcare and Social Service Professionals
We welcome visitors from the healthcare and social services fields including physicians, nurses, advanced practice professionals, social workers, and public health agency representatives. Here you'll find information on care coordination, case management, clinical guidelines for testing, and further help in regards to the complex resource system for patient supports and services following a positive lead screen.

For Families and Caregivers
Partnerships make us stronger and we want to partner with the families we serve! Visit here if you're a parent or caregiver to find information about lead poisoning prevention, supportive services, how to make your home lead-safe, and more.

 
   
 

Lead Abatement Services and Contractors
Our program has partnered with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer lead abatement services to a limited number of homeowners, landlords, and tenants who qualify. We also offer general information for and about certified lead contractors. Visit here to find out more.

 
   

Resource Hub
Visit here to skip directly to our Resource Hub for national, state, and diagnosis-specific resources and supports for CYSHCN and thier families, including resources specific to lead poisoning prevention.

 

Data Center
Visit here to view our fact sheets and data reports. You can also gain access to our data request form here.

 

Our Partners

Visit here to learn more about programs within the Bureau of Family Health serving CYSHCN.

 

 

Press Announcements and Safety Alerts

 

October 24-30, 2021: National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Each year, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is a call to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead. Click the link below to learn more and help us heighten awareness of lead poisoning, provide resources, and encourage preventive actions during NLPPW and beyond.

 

October 15, 2021: CDC Health Alert for LeadCare® Blood Lead Test Recall

Magellan Diagnostics, Inc. and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a recall notice concerning the use of some LeadCare® Blood Lead Tests (certain LeadCare II, LeadCare Plus, and LeadCare Ultra test kit lots). These lots were distributed between October 27, 2020, and June 15, 2021.  The use of these devices may cause serious injuries because they might underestimate blood lead levels. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. The Centers for Disease Control &Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, state and local health departments, tribal, territorial and other partners and stakeholders about this recall notice and to recommend appropriate follow-up actions.

 

August 27, 2021: Potential LeadCare® Test Kit Shortage

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, has raised concerns about potential shortages of LeadCare® test kits following the recall on July 2, 2021. These kits are used to analyze capillary blood lead samples from patients, and the potential shortage may result in fewer children receiving blood lead tests. 

If LeadCare® test kits are unavailable, the CDC strongly recommends that healthcare providers not delay required blood lead testing for children. Blood lead testing can be done with either a venous or capillary blood sample, and submitted to a laboratory for analysis with higher complexity methods. Additionally, the CDC recommends that all healthcare providers contact laboratories for recommended blood collection.  

For additional guidance, please visit the CDC website or contact Dr. Trina Evans Williams, LHHCLPPP State Program Coordinator at Trina.Evans@la.gov

 

July 8, 2021: Official CDC Health Advisory Recall of LeadCare Lead Tests

Magellan Diagnostics, Inc. and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a recall notice concerning the use of some LeadCare® Blood Lead Tests (certain LeadCare II, LeadCare Plus, and LeadCare Ultra test kit lots). These lots were distributed between October 27, 2020, and June 15, 2021. The use of these devices may cause serious injuries because they might underestimate blood lead levels. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall.

 

June 18, 2018: LHHCLPPP celebrates National Healthy Homes Month from HUD and recognizes June 18th-23rd 2018 as Healthy Homes Week in Louisiana

 

March 22, 2018: Update from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on findings from ongoing investigations into Magellan Diagnostics LeadCare Testing.

 

August 4, 2017: Warning from the FDA regarding high levels of lead in Balguti Kesaria Ayurvedic Medicine

 

May 17, 2017: Warning from the FDA regarding the potential for falsely-low blood lead test results from Magellelan LeadCare