Lead
(pb)

Sample type

Whole blood

Uses

1-Lead is malleable, ductile, and a poor conductor of electricityit

2-is used in building construction, bullets, lead–acid batteries, pewter, and radiation shields.

Precautions

1-Perform all testing in a well-ventilated area, even outdoors if possible.

2-Try and avoid contact with the indicator solution and wash hands with soap and water after handling items which have been tested positive for lead.

Interferring factor

1-Whole blood free of clots.

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

3-Specimen container must be lead free.

4-POC testing devices:

• Electrochemical methodology

• One-step sample pretreatment

• Limit of quantitation: 3–5 μg/dL

• Results available in <5 minutes

Results may agree within ±20% ICP-MS

Pre analytical errors

1-Children who eat pencil affect result

The corrective action

the history of the patient should be taken correctly specially pencils

Post-analytical errors

1- Write another patient’s name on the report

The corrective action

Make sure you write the correct name on the report

2-Writing a wrong result in the report

The corrective action

If the report is not delivered to the patient and this error is discovered the correct result must be written, but if the report is delivered to the patient, must communicate with him and tell him that an error has occurred and replace the report with the report in which there is the correct result.

Reference range

children: < 10 μg/dL

adult: < 25 μg/dL