NSW Health continues to use machine known to produce inaccurate results to test child blood lead levels

LeadCare II offers point-of-care testing but the equipment has had recalls globally due to the potential for inaccurately low readings

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Ella’s* 16-month-old daughter returned a blood lead level of 3.5 micrograms of lead per decilitre (3.5μg/dL) when she was tested last week.

That’s under the five micrograms the Australian guidelines consider the investigation threshold – the level at which a child’s blood test result should trigger a health response – but Ella is not reassured.