HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 312

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LEAD TESTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 2601, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2601. Short title; definitions.

(b) For purposes of this chapter:

(6) “Testing” means a venous blood lead test where blood is drawn from a vein. any of the following:

a. A venous blood test in which blood is drawn from a vein.

b. Two capillary blood screenings collected within 12 weeks of each other.

SYNOPSIS

This Act amends the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act to update the statutory definition of confirmatory blood lead testing for children under 16 years of age. The Act allows a confirmed elevated blood lead level to be established either through a venous blood lead test or through two capillary blood lead screenings collected within 12 weeks of each other, provided that the applicable lead reference value is met or exceeded. Two positive capillary blood lead screenings yield an effective specificity of approximately 99.75% when properly collected. This change is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance case definition, reduces barriers to case identification and management, and requires conforming regulatory updates.