Debrief

This case supports iron-restricted erythropoiesis through low ferritin, CRP not elevated at collection, increased RDW, and low locally interpreted Ret-He. It does not establish a final diagnosis or exclude a coexisting hemoglobinopathy. The smear supports morphology; absent basophilic stippling is not a lead result.

A capillary blood-lead value at or above the BLRV requires the defined venous confirmation pathway. The BLRV is a population action/reference value rather than a toxicity threshold. Do not provide chelation or treatment advice in a laboratory interpretation.

Review pediatric intervals, the current CDC BLRV, jurisdictional reporting rules, local lead method details, and device safety alerts at least annually, and update local procedures when CDC revises the BLRV or when a method, interval, jurisdictional rule, or policy changes. State what was measured, what the evidence supports, and which next action is governed by local policy.