The possibility of inaccurate results from certain blood-drawn lead testing of young children has prompted the state Department of Health to recommend retesting.
In a news release Monday, the DOH said it was recommending that parents of children 6 years and under from whom blood was drawn for lead testing before May 17 consult with their health care provider on whether to do another test.
“This advisory does not apply if the child was tested with a finger or heel stick,” the department said. Also, it said, pregnant women and nursing mothers who had a venous blood lead test before May 17 should consult their doctor about retesting.
The advisory is prompted by a warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued in May about Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare analyzers used by some Hawaii laboratories.
“Magellan blood lead tests on blood drawn from a vein may provide falsely low results,” the news release said. The exact number of inaccurate blood lead test results received within the state is not known, according to the DOH.
“It’s very important to identify children who may have been exposed to lead,” said Dr. Virginia Pressler, state health director. “The faulty test underestimates low blood lead levels, and even low levels of lead exposure may cause adverse health effects such as learning and behavior problems in young children.”
For further questions on lead exposure, contact the Hawaii Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Information on the national safety alert is available at 808ne.ws/leadalert.
Maui
Snorkeling visitor dies at Napili
A California man died Sunday after he got into trouble while snorkeling off Napili Point, Maui County announced.
Fire crews from Lahaina responded to a midafternoon report of a man who was pulled from the water at 5295 Lower Honoapiilani Road.
Firefighters arrived at 3:22 p.m. and found bystanders performing CPR on the victim. Firefighters continued CPR until paramedics arrived and began advanced life support measures. The man, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene.
He had been snorkeling with a friend not far from shore when the friend noticed that the man was not moving. The friend brought him to shore and bystanders helped to carry the victim onto the shoreline.
The Napili fire crew was tied up at another emergency call at the time.
Hawaii island
Puna man charged with car thefts
A 21-year-old Puna man made his first court appearance Monday on charges of auto theft and numerous other crimes dating from Aug. 24, 2016, to May 11.
Police arrested Keanu Krause at 4 p.m Friday at his Hawaiian Paradise Park home.
Detectives charged Krause on Sunday with crimes related to seven auto thefts, third-degree theft of gasoline and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. His bail was set at $160,500.
The judge on Monday ordered Krause to appear today on charges of second-degree theft and auto theft for crimes allegedly committed April 3. The judge reduced his bail to $30,000.
Krause’s bail was confirmed at $54,500 for charges of second-degree theft, auto theft, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree theft of gasoline.
