Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41659289›Full record

ArticleEJIFCC2026

Lead Toxicity Testing in the Asia-Pacific - Practices, Challenges, and Policy Insights: An APFCB Communication and Publications Committee Survey report.

Vivek Pant, Deepak Parchwani, Mayank Upadhyay, Ryunosuke Ohkawa, Mingma Lhamu Sherpa, Pradeep Kumar Dabla

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EJIFCC, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Vivek PantDepartment of Biochemistry, Samyak Diagnostic Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Deepak ParchwaniDepartment of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Mayank UpadhyayAsia Pacific Regional Marketing Manager - Clinical Laboratory Assays for Quidel Ortho.
Ryunosuke OhkawaDepartment of Clinical Bioanalysis and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo.
Mingma Lhamu SherpaDepartment of Biochemistry, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
Pradeep Kumar DablaDepartment of Biochemistry, G.B.Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Lead exposure remains a major health concern in the Asia-Pacific, particularly affecting children. Despite its significance, lead toxicity testing is underutilized because of limited awareness, resources, and policy support. On December 16, 2024, the APFCB C-CP (Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine -Communication and Publications Committee) conducted Webcast & eLearning Program Webinar themed as "Protecting Health in Asia-Pacific: Laboratory Advances and Lead Exposure Prevention", aimed to address these issues and acknowledge need based solutions. An online survey was conducted during webinar in real time to assess the current lead-testing practices, common exposure sources, testing challenges, and policy changes. Methods: A seven-question survey was distributed to webinar participants, covering testing frequency, methodologies, exposure sources, information sources, challenges, and policy needs. A total of 66 professionals attended the session and 22 complete surveys were collected from Nepal, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. Results: Lead testing was infrequent in the region, with 58.6% of the respondents reporting rare or no testing. Weekly testing has been reported in 20.7% of cases. The most commonly used methodology was point-of-care testing via anodic stripping voltammetry (37.5%) followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (25%). Occupational exposure (39.1%) was the leading source of lead poisoning, followed by dietary sources (26.1%) and environmental contamination (21.7%). Academic journals (47.5%) were the primary educational resources. Key challenges included low awareness among healthcare providers (43.5%) and resource shortage (39.1%). The most recommended policy change was to increase government support (61.5%). Conclusion: In conclusion, lead testing remains infrequent across many settings, with limited routine implementation and heavy reliance on point-of-care methodologies. Occupational exposure emerged as the predominant source of lead poisoning, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. Strengthening government support is identified as the most critical policy change to enhance lead testing and management efforts.

Indexed as

APFCB C-CPAsia-PacificEnvironmental contaminationLead testingLead toxicityOccupational exposurePolicy recommendations

Identifiers

PMID41659289
PMCPMC12882087

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.