Lead (Pb)

An element with four stable isotopes (204, 206, 207, and 208) found naturally in minerals; in man-made products such as paint, gasoline, cigarette smoke, solder in cans, and ceramics; and as a contaminant in soil and water.

Normal range: <10 Ž ¼g/dL (<0.48 mmol/L).

Use

Lead is malleable, ductile, and a poor conductor of electricity; therefore, it is used in building construction, bullets, lead " “acid batteries, pewter, and radiation shields.

Interpretation

Refer to current local state or federal (CDC) guidelines regarding treatment at specific blood lead concentrations. Note that thresholds for treatment vary for adults, children, and pregnant women.

See discussion of lead poisoning in Chapter 14.

Limitations

Whole blood free of clots.

Specimen must be collected using a procedure that minimizes environmental contamination.

Specimen container must be lead free.

POC testing devices:

Electrochemical methodology

One-step sample pretreatment

Limit of quantitation: 3 " “5 Ž ¼g/dL

Results available in <5 minutes

Results may agree within ‚ ±20% ICP-MS

Laboratory-based instrumentation

Atomic absorption

Target analyte: nonionized atomic lead

Limit of quantitation: 1 Ž ¼g/dL

Anodic stripping

Target analyte: oxidized lead

Limit of quantitation: 1 " “2 Ž ¼g/dL

Requires sample pretreatment

Inductively coupled plasma MS

Target analyte: ions at mass/charge ratio of natural isotopes of Pb