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Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson

EPA STAR Lead Study

About This Study

Our research group is looking for participants in a lead testing study.

You must have a private well and a child under the age of 7 living in the home in order to qualify.

Sign up here 

If you or someone you know is using water from a private well in North Carolina, you may be at a higher risk for lead exposure than those on public utilities. We are a research group investigating lead in private well water, and we hope that our work will help inform communities and keep families safe from lead contamination. To reach this goal, we’re looking for participants in our study. In order to qualify, you must have a child between three months and seven years old living in the household and drink or cook with water from a private well.

If you participate in our study, you will receive:

  • A $75 cash gift card
  • A free water test to determine lead levels
  • A free blood test for your child to check for lead exposure
  • Personalized information on how to care for you and your family’s water based on the test results!

How to Apply

Fill out our short online form here. You’ll be taken to our online application where we’ll ask you a few easy questions like your name and how you would like to be contacted.

You can email us at leadteam@indiana.edu or give us a call at (812)856-5731.

We will set up a time that is most convenient for you and we’ll bring all the testing materials to your home. We are using a state-of-the-art blood sampling method that you can administer on your child without the need for large needles or nurses. The average time commitment is only 30 minutes!!

What to Expect

If you’re interested in participating, here’s what you can expect from us:

  • Once you contact us, we will get back to you within a few business days to schedule an appointment.
  • Each appointment will take around 30 minutes and will be conducted in your own home by a group of 2-4 researchers.
  • On the day of your meeting, we will come to your home to collect a blood sample from your child.
  • We will use a state-of-the-art microneedle patch that is nearly pain-free and far less invasive than a traditional blood draw.
  • The patch can be applied by you or your own child to their arm and takes only a few minutes.
  • We will ask you some questions about your well.
  • We will collect lead dust samples from 5 points in your home.
  • We will give you a kit so you can sample water from your tap.
  • Your results will be mailed to you and you will receive them as soon as possible.
  • All sample data will be de-identified and securely stored in order to protect your privacy.
  • You will receive a $75 gift card at the time of our visit.