Saliva Lead Screening Kit

[boomer78]

DD is almost 1 and we don't vaccinate or do WBVs. I'm still debating whether to do a lead test or not. No known risk factors are present. I may be OK with the finger prick but don't feel OK about a blood draw (call me crazy, I know!). Our pedi doesn't have separate waiting rooms for healthy/sick children so that's another factor of me not being thrilled to even go. To think all the germs we can encounter while being there... DD will be one in the middle of the winter season so I'm sure the flu will be present as well. I just really don't like doctors' offices.

So I've been researching on the likelihood of her having elevated levels, proper nutrition (Calcium, Iron, VitC) and different ways of testing and different experiences of other mammas and found this http://www.testkitindia.com/LeadPoisoning.html - a saliva test kit. Anyone heard of this or tried it? It's said to be as accurate as blood test. I would like to give this a try first before going to our pedi.

[BathrobeGoddess]

Moved to health and healing

[carmel23]

hhhmm... I don't know, but it it is as accurate, I think more Docs would use it, yk? And the finger prick test is not all that accurate at all.... hence the blood draw.

I don't like germs, but figure it is better to exercise the immune system.

[boomer78]

Some doctors still do the finger prick and blood draw only if the first result shows elevated levels. I don't know which one our pedi does, haven't asked yet. They already think we're crazy for not vaxing.

I don't mind germs that we encounter on a daily basis since that's something that can't be avoided. But doctor's office or a waiting room is a whole different story. All kinds of nasty bugs in one place. That's pretty much asking for it. I don't want to expose her to - say, the flu - if I can avoid it.

I think the kit itself may be more expensive and I don't even know how long it's been on the market. From what I have read, drs usually do a blood draw to test for other things, like iron levels and such. So this would just be an extra expense.

[carmel23]

Nope, you can check iron levels with a finger prick, too. I have 4 kids, ages 9 to 10 months, and no one has ever had a blood draw. Finger prick, yes, blood draw, no. :

Can you ask to wait in your car/ outside the Dr's office, and have then call you on a cell phone when it is your turn?

[deditus]

I personally think getting lead levels tested is very important. Many people don't realize all the places where children can be exposed to lead. I only will do a blood draw, as dd HATES finger pricks and that way it is more accurate and they can check other stuff, too. If a finger prick comes back high, they do a blood draw anyway.

[boomer78]

Originally Posted by carmel23

Can you ask to wait in your car/ outside the Dr's office, and have then call you on a cell phone when it is your turn?

Nope, our pedi is at the hospital unfortunately.

I will most likely try the home kit first and if it shows elevated levels I would bring her in. I can't stand the thought of her getting a blood draw. I know it's crazy but I can't get over it.

On a side note, it may be because I am somewhat traumatized by the medical industry from when I was a kid myself.

[boomer78]

I have bought the kit online and will give it a try. I called our pedi and they do the finger prick.

It claims:
■1:1 Correlation with Lead Blood Test Results
■CLIA Accredited Lab & FDA Cleared Collection Kit

From what I have found, finger pricks are only less accurate because they can be falsely positive, not negative. So if this is at least as accurate as the finger prick, it's a nice pain-free alternative.