Agencies
Services
Provider Information
Educational efforts focus on prevention methods and target high-risk groups. Lead poisoning awareness is increased by the distribution of educational materials, through various community-based outreach activities, annual health fairs, conferences, and coordination of training sessions. Training provides skills and knowledge to local health care providers related to lead poisoning prevention, treatment and reporting
Evaluating and Testing Children
Identification of children with elevated blood lead levels ensures that appropriate medical follow-up occurs and adverse effects of lead poisoning are minimized. As of July 1, 2026, testing in Illinois is universal. According to Illinois law, physicians are required to test all children ages 9-12 months and again at 24 months. Children 3 years of age and older should be evaluated annually using the Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire to determine if a blood lead test is necessary. Children who may have been assessed by the Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire and were previously deemed that a lead test was not necessary should now be tested.
Illinois law requires all children be tested at the above ages for enrollment into daycare, preschool, and kindergarten. The lead test is a required section of the school health form that must be completed annually by October 1. Proof of testing must be provided. Proof of evaluation and testing, if deemed necessary, must be provided. (See the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act and/or the Lead Poisoning Prevention Code for details.)
Lead Poisoning Prevention Webinars
October 21, 2018: IDPH Lead Program Presents – A Look at Lead Exposed Children and Case Management through the IDPH Lead Program.
This webinar was recorded in 2018. The main content regarding how the Illinois Childhood Lead Program operates is still relevant. However, testing requirements and blood lead intervention action levels have changed since it was created. Please refer to all updated guidance for children and pregnant persons in Illinois.
Previously Recorded Webinars
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Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Lead
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Lead
- Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Recalls
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) | Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
- National Center for Healthy Housing
- National Library of Medicine | Neonatal Lead Poisoning From Maternal Pica Behavior During Pregnancy
- Recalls.gov
Forms
Laws & Rules
Publications
- Algorithm - Breastfeeding
- Algorithm - Infant Testing
- Algorithm - Prenatal Risk
- Childhood Lead Poisoning | Childhood Lead Poisoning (En Español) | Childhood Lead Poisoning (En Français)
- Children and Lead Booklet
- Foreign Products Which May Contain Lead
- Hardware Store Poster Warning against Dry Scraping and Sanding | Hardware Store Poster Warning against Dry Scraping and Sanding (En Español)
- Childhood Blood Lead Evaluation and Testing Recommendations
- Lead Testing and Case Follow-Up Guidelines for Local Health Departments
- Lead Testing Recommendations for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Physician Testing Handout | Physician Testing Handout (En Español)
- Pregnant Women and Lead Poisoning: How to Protect Your Unborn Child | Pregnant Women and Lead Poisoning: How to Protect Your Unborn Child (En Español)
- Preventing and Testing for Childhood Lead Poisoning – A Reference Guide for Physicians and Health Care Providers
- Sources of Childhood Lead Poisoning | Sources of Childhood Lead Poisoning (En Español) | Sources of Childhood Lead Poisoning (En Français)
- Confirmatory Testing Letter
