Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department’s Women, Infants and Children program (Wheeling-Ohio County WIC) has started offering lead testing to anyone older than 1. Ohio County has been selected as a high risk area, as over 75% of the public houses in the area were built before 1978. Lead can be found in old paint used prior to 1977, when lead-based paint was banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The testing, an easy finger stick, is available for anyone 1 or older. Results are available within 5 minutes. Testing is important because high levels of lead can lead to growth and intellectual development issues in children. Children absorb lead more readily than adults, so early detection is important to prevent these issues.

Other potential lead exposure can be from certain work environments and older water pipes. Jobs that expose people to lead include painting, construction, home remodeling, radiator repair and battery or scrap metal recycling.

This is a free service to anyone that is a WIC participant, or the family member of a WIC participant (including adults and other children), in Ohio County. We are able to provide this free service because of funding from a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via the West Virginia Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. If you are interested in lead testing or have questions,call the Ohio County WIC Program at 304-234-3888.