The director shall establish a program for early diagnosis of cases of lead poisoning. The program shall provide for systematic examination for lead poisoning of all children at risk under six years of age residing within the State. Examinations shall be made by such means and at such intervals as the director shall determine to be medically necessary and proper.

The program, to the extent that all children residing within the State are not systematically examined, shall give priority in examinations to those children residing, or who have recently resided, in areas where significant numbers of lead poisoning cases have been reported recently or where other reliable evidence indicates that significant numbers of lead poisoning cases may be found.

When the department is informed of a case of lead poisoning pursuant to Section 44-53-1380 or otherwise, the director or his representative shall cause to have examined within thirty days all other children under six years of age, and such other children as he may find advisable to examine, residing or recently residing in the household of the victim or in all other dwelling units in the dwelling of the victim unless the parents or guardian of the child objects to the examination because it conflicts with his religious beliefs or practices.

The department shall maintain comprehensive records of all examinations conducted pursuant to this section. The records shall be geographically indexed in order to determine the location of areas of relatively high incidence of lead poisoning. The records shall be public records but the name of the persons examined shall not be included. A summary of the results of all examination conducted pursuant to this section shall be released yearly to all interested parties or more frequently if the director so determines.

All cases or probable cases of lead poisoning, as defined by regulation of the director, found in the course of examinations conducted pursuant to this section shall be reported immediately to the affected person, to his parent or legal guardian if he is a minor, and to the director. The director or his representative shall inform such persons or agencies as he deems advisable of the existence of such case or probable case. The name of any person contracting lead poisoning shall not be included unless the director determines that the inclusion is necessary to protect his health and well-being.