Order Blood Lead Test from JustLabs for $25 ($43 all-in for a single-test order: $25 + one $18 lab & physician order fee per order). Price includes lab processing at Quest Diagnostics. No insurance required.
A blood lead test checks for lead exposure, which can affect development in children and cause a range of symptoms in adults.
Lead is a toxic metal with no known safe level in the blood. It builds up quietly: most people with an elevated level have no symptoms at all, which is why testing - rather than waiting for signs - is how exposure is usually found.
The most common sources are older buildings and the environment around them. Paint in homes built before 1978 is the classic one (chips, and the dust created when it is sanded, scraped or disturbed during renovation), along with soil near older homes or busy roads, and drinking water that has passed through lead pipes, solder or brass fixtures. Less obvious sources include some imported spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics (such as kohl or sindoor), glazed ceramics, older or imported toys and jewelry, and take-home dust from adult work or hobbies - construction and demolition, battery or radiator repair, firearms and shooting ranges, soldering, stained glass and pottery glazes.
Children are more vulnerable than adults. They absorb a larger share of the lead they swallow, they put hands and objects in their mouths, and their developing brains are more sensitive - exposure in early childhood is linked to lasting effects on learning, attention and behavior even at levels that cause no obvious symptoms. The AAP and CDC recommend screening children at 12 and 24 months, with catch-up testing up to age 6 for any child who was never screened, and testing at any age when a risk factor is present (an older home, a sibling or playmate with an elevated level, recent immigration or adoption, or a caregiver with an exposed occupation). Adults with occupational or hobby exposure, and anyone who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy with a possible exposure, also benefit from a baseline test.
This test uses a venous whole-blood sample drawn at Quest, which is the confirmatory method - it avoids the skin contamination that can produce false positives on finger-stick screens.
Price
$25
All-in
$43
incl. $18 lab & physician fee
Results
2-3 business days
Fasting
Not Required
What's Measured
What This Test Measures
The concentration of lead in venous whole blood, reported in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). Lead in blood mostly reflects exposure over the past few weeks to months. For context, the CDC blood lead reference value - the level used to identify children with more lead in their blood than most - is 3.5 mcg/dL. There is no threshold below which lead is considered harmless.
Who Should Consider This Test
Children at the recommended screening ages (12 and 24 months, or up to age 6 if never screened); children who live in, visit or attend daycare in a home built before 1978, especially one with peeling paint or recent renovation; recently immigrated or adopted children; pregnant people with a possible exposure; adults with occupational or hobby exposure (construction, demolition, painting, plumbing, battery or radiator work, shooting ranges, soldering, ceramics, stained glass); and anyone with symptoms that could be related to lead exposure.
Health Insights
Conditions Screened
Related Symptoms
When to Get Tested
No fasting is required - any time of day. Children: at 12 and 24 months, or once up to age 6 if never tested, and any time a new risk factor appears. Adults with ongoing occupational exposure are typically tested periodically as part of a workplace program; a one-time baseline is reasonable after a suspected exposure.
No fasting needed. How to prepare for your blood test →
Understanding Your Results
Results are reported in mcg/dL. The CDC blood lead reference value for children is 3.5 mcg/dL: a result at or above it means a child has more lead in their blood than most children and warrants follow-up with a healthcare provider, a search for the source of exposure, and usually a repeat test to track the trend. Levels at or above 5 mcg/dL are generally managed with closer follow-up and environmental investigation, and levels at or above 45 mcg/dL are considered urgent and require prompt medical evaluation. For adults, many occupational health programs act on levels around 5 mcg/dL and above. A result below the reference value does not rule out past exposure, since blood lead mainly reflects recent months. Any elevated result should be reviewed with a provider - this test screens for exposure; it does not diagnose or stage lead poisoning on its own.
What to Expect
After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.
The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 2-3 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.
Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.
How much does the Lead test cost?
The Lead test costs $25 at JustLabs — $43 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.
| Option | Price | Order all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead at JustLabsDrawn at Quest Diagnostics | $25 | $43 | Includes the one $18 fee, charged once per order |
Paying with an HSA or FSA? See which lab tests qualify
Frequently Asked Questions
Hospital cash price: $120–$200
$25
+ $18 order fee · $43 all-inOne $18 fee per order covers your Quest blood draw and the independent physician order, however many tests you add.
- Results in 2-3 business days
- No fasting required
- Physician order included
No insurance needed · HSA/FSA eligible
- Physician-ordered
- CLIA-certified Quest lab
- Drawn at Quest Diagnostics
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