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Making Blood Lead Screenings Available in Wahkiakum County

Thanks to FPHS funding and partnership with WA DOH, Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services added portable blood lead level testing. Before this, families had to travel out of the county for testing, and many children weren’t screened at all. Now, local clinics can test on-site with immediate results.

• 1 min read

In 2023 there were more than 240,000 Medicaid enrollees under 6 years of age in Washington State and overall, only 26% of these children received the required blood lead screening. This crucial service was not readily available in Wahkiakum. Thanks to FPHS funding and partnership with WA DOH, Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services added portable blood lead level testing. Before this, families had to travel out of the county for testing, and many children weren’t screened at all. Now, local clinics can test on-site with immediate results.

Wahkiakum County Health & Human services used FPHS funds to begin portable blood lead testing, allowing them to increase screenings of children who wouldn’t otherwise have been tested.

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