SUNSET PARK/BAY RIDGE —The Lutheran Family Health Centers School Health Program now offers rapid lead testing at 10 of its school health sites.

Using the rapid test, providers can deliver blood lead results equivalent to those reported by outside laboratories in just three minutes.

Since the beginning of August, millions of products containing unsafe levels of lead paint have been recalled. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Americans should expect more recalls in the coming months.

Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. However, if untreated, it can cause learning and behavior problems. The key is early detection through screening and immediate intervention when testing identifies elevated blood-lead levels. Young children often place their toys, fingers, and other objects in their mouths as part of their normal development. This hand-to-mouth activity can result in lead poisoning from sucking on or swallowing toys with lead or objects with lead dust.

ESA Biosciences, Inc., a Magellan Biosciences company, developed the rapid lead test, LeadCare(r) II, with a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. As one of the largest family health center systems in the country, Lutheran played a key role in the critical study that led to its Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2006.

Lutheran Family Health Centers encourages its community to get to know their school health programs and have their children tested for lead. Since 1984, the Lutheran Family Health Centers network has operated the program, which provides comprehensive medical, mental health and dental services in several schools. With 14 school health centers sites, it's the largest in Brooklyn.

Lead testing is available at the following school health sites:

• PS 1, The Bergen School, Sunset Park

• PS 10, Magnet School of Math, Science and Design Technology, Park Slope

• PS 15, Patrick F. Daly, Red Hook

• PS 24, Sunset Park

• PS 94, The Henry Longfellow School, Sunset Park

• PS 169, Sunset Park School, Sunset Park

• PS 172, The Beacon School of Excellence, Sunset Park

• PS 503/506 (formerly PS 314), Sunset Park

• PS 307/M.S. 313, The Daniel Hale Williams and Satellite West Middle School, Brooklyn Heights

• PS 282 Park Slope School, Park Slope (pending)

For additional information about the testing program, please call Lutheran Family Health Centers’ School Health Program medical director at (718) 630-8758 or the External Affairs Department at (718) 630-7155.

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