CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – Harrison County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is offering free lead testing for clients as part of a year-long pilot program in response to lead found in the Clarksburg water system. The testing started in the summer of 2021, when children with higher than normal lead levels were discovered as part of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
The free tests are offered through the WCI program administered by the Monongalia Health Department in Harrison, Marion, Taylor, Preston, and Doddridge Counties.
Health officer from the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department, Dr. Nancy Joseph, said the free tests can be administered to children and any household member traveling to the WIC office for an appointment.
“Elevated lead levels can impact, especially in younger children under the age of 6, their ability to learn,” Dr. Joseph said.
High levels of lead exposure in children can result in learning disabilities, damage to the brain or nervous system, growth and development problems, and behavior issues.
Dr. Joseph said the free test requires an additional finger stick and takes about three minutes.
“They already check hemoglobin on the child, which requires a finger stick, and they see that younger age group,” Dr. Joseph said. “So they are in a perfect position to offer that testing.”
Tests were offered through the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department when the crisis was identified in 2021, but officials moved the program to hopefully reach more people and target young children. Joseph said the results of the test would be available minutes after the finger stick.
“Targeting that younger age group is important because those are the ones whose brains are still forming, and we want to give them the best start in life as possible,” Dr. Joseph said.
WIC clients can make an appointment to be tested by calling the WIC office in Harrison County at 304-848-9680.