Clone of Portable Blood Lead Analyzer User Information

North Carolina General Statute §130A-131.8 (section about Laboratory Reports, Lead Poisoning in Children) was amended during the 2009 legislative session. The statute requires ALL blood lead test results for children under 6 to be reported electronically to NCDHHS within five working days. 

This requirement includes results from samples analyzed on Portable Blood Lead analyzers (e.g. Leadcare machines). You must notify the NC Children's Environmental Health Branch office if you are using a Portable Analyzer for blood lead analysis if you have not done so already!

Note: To make arrangements for reporting blood lead test results for children from your portable analyzer, please contact Tena Hand-Schafale at (919) 707-5933 or by email.


 

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Print/Download Upload Instructions (PDF)

  1. Go to Lead Care Website.
  2. Enter your username and password. Click on "Login."
  3. Click on "Upload."
  4. You should see a message on the screen: "Now add files from upload bar." Click on "Add Files."
  5. Navigate to the appropriate folder (titled "LeadCare Reports" if created by the LeadCare software). LeadCare Reports files should be in .xml format. 
    • Select the file you want to upload by clicking on its name to make it visible in the “File Name” box at the bottom of the window. 
    • To upload multiple files: Hold down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on the names of the files. 
    • Click "Open" to upload the file(s).
  6. Click on the "Start Uploading" link.
  7. You should get a message that the upload was completed. Click on the white “X” in the top right corner of the “Files to upload” box to close the window.
  8. Check to ensure your file is listed in the main window.
  9. Click "Logout" when you are finished uploading files.

Tips for New Users

  • After entering your first two or three blood lead test results, upload the results file as a test file into the LeadCare FTP site. 
  • After uploading your first file to the LeadCare FTP site, notify Tena Hand at tena.hand@dhhs.nc.gov. She will check the file to ensure it transferred correctly, is in the correct format, and contains all required fields to meet state-mandated reporting requirements. Files that do not meet requirements may need to be re-entered and uploaded again. 

Questions? Contact Tena Hand at tena.hand@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-707-5933.

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How to Use the NC Reporting Template

Print/Download Template Instructions (PDF)

Getting Started and Naming Your File

Open the template and save the file with a new name. Or copy the file and give the copied file a new name.

Important notes on file naming: 

  • Each file name must be unique to avoid being overwritten with a previous file submitted with the same name.
  • Choose a file name unique to your facility. More than 200 facilities upload files each week.
  • Commas (,), number symbols (#), slashes (/) and apostrophes (') are not permitted in the file name.
  • Suggestion: Start the file name with your CLIA number or abbreviated facility name, and include a date reference (e.g., CPB-2023-05-05.xlsx)

Required and Optional Fields

Fields marked with an asterisk* are required. Medicaid ID is required, if applicable. If child is not enrolled in Medicaid, leave the field blank. 

Some fields have a drop-down list with choices for selection. If there are no applicable choices, please leave blank.

Creating the Laboratory Sample Number

The sample number is also known as the laboratory sample number, Specimen ID, and Accession number. This should be a unique identifier for the blood lead specimen. A sample ID should never be used again.

Suggestion: Use the patient number combined with the sample date as yymmdd. Example: If the patient id is 126995 and the date of the test is 07/16/2023 the sample number would be 126995-230716.

Blood Lead Test Result

The reportable range of the LeadCare II test is 3.3 to 65 μg/dL. 

  • “Low” means the result is less than 3.3 - enter < 3.3 in the result field.
  • If the result is between 3.3 and 65 - enter the number (e.g., 3.6, 4.7, 11.2) in the result field.
  • “High" means the result is greater than 65, enter > 65 in the result field.

Please note: Result values other than these will be rejected.

What to Avoid

  • Do not enter test results analyzed by another laboratory (e.g., NC State Laboratory of Public Health, LabCorp, Mayo, Quest Diagnostics, etc.)
  • Do not enter a result as "normal." "Normal" is an interpretation. "Normal" is not the test result.
  • Do not put units of measurement in the result field (e.g. µg/dL, mcg).
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