QUESTION: Where to obtain equipment for finger prick method to test office workers on smelter site for blood lead 05 Aug 2008 Tasmania, Australia

Hi,

I am the OH&S nurse at the Nyrstar zinc smelter in Hobart. We are looking at the idea of using the Finger prick method to test our office workers on site. Do you have any information regarding this and contacts of where we can purchase this equipment.

Kind Regards

Steve Black

OH&S Nurse

Nyrstar Hobart‍

ANSWER: 05 Aug 2008

Dear Steve,

ESA's portable Lead Care blood lead testing machine can test lead in either finger stick or venous samples in the field. The quantitative result takes three minutes per sample. In the US, the cost of each test qualifies for

reimbursement as a quantitative blood lead.

See  http://www.leadcare2.com/

LeadCare^® is a brand of Magellan Diagnostics, a medical device company that develops point-of-care systems, clinical laboratory instruments, and analytical laboratory services focused on lead testing. Headquartered outside Boston in Billerica, Massachusetts, Magellan is dedicated to providing high quality; reliable products that help identify children and adults at risk of harm due to lead exposure.

LeadCare II is the only CLIA-waived device available to test for lead exposure at the point of care. It is currently being used by thousands of pediatricians and nurses across the United States as well as in Departments of Public Health; Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics; and Head Start Programs. We are proud to help these customers provide screening and rapid diagnosis for the millions of young children who are most at risk of lead poisoning and its devastating consequences.

Magellan Diagnostics
101 Billerica Ave, Building 4
North Billerica, MA 01862 USA
Phone: 0011 1 978-856-2345
E-mail: LeadCareinfo@magellandx.com

If it is the LeadCare machine that you're after, Point of Care Diagnostics (POCD) imports them into Australia (and New Zealand) (see http://www.pocd.com.au/POCDpr_LeadCare-II_blood_analyzer.php) For further information contact Peter Merrilees -  or phone Freecall within Australia 1800 640 075, or Sydney (02) 9437 1355.

I hope this helps

Yours Sincerely

Elizabeth O’Brien