This report reviews childhood lead poisoning screening activities in mainland France during the period 1995–2002. It draws on data from the "National Surveillance System for Childhood Lead Poisoning" established in 1995, as well as information obtained from a survey of the Departmental Directorates of Health and Social Affairs (DDASS) conducted in 2003 and from a survey of blood lead level testing laboratories conducted in 2004. According to cross-referenced data from the surveillance system and the DDASS survey, 36,151 children underwent at least one blood lead level test between 1995 and 2002. The average probability of a child being tested before age 7 was 0.6 in 100. Screening varied widely across regions and over time. Screening activity in the Île-de-France region accounted for 61% of screening activity in metropolitan France and was concentrated primarily in the departments of Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis. Most of the other screening efforts took place in the Rhône-Alpes and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions (12% and 9%, respectively). Outside the Ile-de-France and Rhône-Alpes regions, screening activities were often limited to one-off campaigns. The average yield of the initial screening was 14.4%. A total of 5,974 cases of lead poisoning were identified (initial screening and follow-up). The average annual incidence rate was 5.9 per 100,000 children under 18 years of age and 17 per 100,000 children under 7 years of age. Of these children, 65.9% resided in Ile-de-France, 20% in Rhône-Alpes, and 7% in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The completeness rate of blood lead levels recorded by the surveillance system, estimated for the years 2000 to 2002 based on the laboratory survey, ranged from 69% to 82%. According to data from the surveillance system alone, the number of children tested for the first time increased steadily each year, but the proportion of children with an initial blood lead level greater than or equal to the threshold of 100 μg/dL fell sharply (from 24.5% in 1995 to 8.5% in 2002). The vast majority of children who underwent blood sampling for childhood lead poisoning screening were under 7 years of age (94.4%). The average age was just under 3 years, with slightly more boys screened than girls. The primary providers of screening were physicians at maternal and child health centers in the Ile-de-France/Centre, Southeast, and Southwest regions. In the East, Far North, and Pays de la Loire regions, health centers and hospitals were the main prescribers. The "housing" risk factor was reported as present at the time of the initial screening for 71% of the children registered in the surveillance system. The presence of multiple exposure risk factors noted by the prescriber in the same child was associated with an increased risk of elevated blood lead levels. The factors “poor housing conditions,” “pica,” and “other children with lead poisoning” proved to be the most predictive of an initial high blood lead level. Screening for childhood lead poisoning around industrial sites was conducted primarily in 7 regions. A total of 2,842 children were tested, and 296 (10.5%) were found to be poisoned. There is uncertainty regarding the actual follow-up of one-third of the children whose initial blood lead levels were above 100 μg/dL. Chelation therapy was administered to 460 children. The most common environmental remediation measures were relocation and remedial work in the home. (R.A.)