A new serosurveillance model analyzes six serum markers to assess disease history and follow outbreaks.

Do other labs have established critical levels for blood lead concentrations? Most respondents do, but the values they use vary. Based on CDC guidelines for when patients will require hospitalization and chelation therapy, one lab uses >= 45 ug/dL for children and >= 70 ug/dL for adults. Other critical values in use include: >45 ug/dL for all ages; >25 ug/dL for all ages with >30 ug/dL triggering a call to the county; and >35 ug/dL for children.

Metabolic syndrome affects approximately 20-25% of adults and it is estimated that having this condition results in a person being three times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack and five times more likely to develop diabetes.