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Announcement

Clinical specimens submitted on paper forms after January 1^st, 2024 will be subject to rejection per WAC 246-101-215 without prior approval. Clinical specimens shipped to the WAPHL must be ordered through WAPHL LWP Portal. *Environmental samples will still be accepted via paper requisition form.

Pass Through Request

Specimen Pass Through Form

Please review all CDC submission requirements, including proper patient identifiers before shipping specimens to PHL.

How to Order a Lab Test

Use our online system to order your lab test.

First time users can enroll through email using the Sign Up button below.
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Use the menu below for:

Specimen collection and shipping instructions
Specimen submission forms
Pre-approval requirements
Testing methodologies and frequencies
Turnaround times and contact information

To ensure that specimens meet laboratory acceptance criteria, please review all appropriate content prior to specimen submission.

Name Sort descending	Updated	Required form	Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions	Pre-approval Requirement Procedure, if applicable	Methodology	Testing Frequency	Turnaround Time (business days)	Comments	Contact	Footnotes	Notifiable Conditions Info
Coliform Testing (Environmental) Total and Fecal coliforms	10/14/2022	Requisition Form - Food Lab (file)	Coliform Testing (Environmental)	Pre-approval required. Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Enumeration method based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).	As needed upon request.	4-14 days	Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with DOH CDE approval.	Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Corynebacterium diphtheriae Culture Corynediptheriae, Diptheria	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Corynebacterium diphtheriae Culture	Pre-approval required. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Selective media will be used to isolate and identify C. diphtheriae from clinical specimens.	Daily, on regular business days	5-7 days	If Corynebacterium diphtheriae is isolated, the isolate will be forwarded to CDC for toxigenicity testing.	Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Corynebacterium diphtheriae Identification Corynediptheriae, Diptheria, C. diphtheriae confirmation	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Corynebacterium diphtheriae Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Corynebacterium diptheriae will be confirmed using traditional biochemicals and forwarded to CDC for toxigenicity testing.	Daily, on regular business days	3-5 days*		Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452	* Turnaround times may be extended when an isolate must be submitted to another reference laboratory (e.g. CDC) for further characterization.	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
COVID-19 2019 Novel Coronavirus	05/06/2022		COVID-19 Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions	Pre-approval required. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR)	6 days per week	48 hours after approval and receipt of specimen	COVID-19 is an emerging condition. For details visit https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus	Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE): 206-418-5500. https://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/PublicHealthSystem/LocalHealthJurisdictions		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Coxiella burnetii, RT-PCR Coxiella, Q fever	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Coxiella burnetii	Pre-approval required. Contact the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR); multiplexed nucleic acid based in vitro diagnostic test	Daily, on regular business days*	8 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations. ** Confirmation is performed at the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC).	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Cryptosporidium/Giardia Confirmation Cryptosporidium species, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis	11/23/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Cryptosporidium/Giardia Confirmation	Pre-approval required. Diagnostic Parasitology Services is provided only to the Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJ) and State Agencies. All other laboratories must obtain pre-approval from the Parasitology Laboratory before shipping (206) 418-5469.	Formalin Ethyl Acetate Concentration procedure followed by Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA).	Weekly (testing days may vary depending on specimen submission)	2-5 days	Suspected organism must be documented on requisition form.	Parasitology (206) 418-5469		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Cyclospora/Cystoisospora belli Coccidia, Cyclospora, Cystoisospora belli	11/23/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Cyclospora/Cystoisospora belli		Formalin Ethyl Acetate Concentration procedure followed by Modified Acid Fast staining.	Weekly (testing days may vary depending on specimen submission)	2-5 days	Suspected organism must be documented on requisition form.	Parasitology (206) 418-5469		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning DSP, Dinophysis toxins, Lipophilic shellfish toxins, Biotoxin, Marine Toxin	03/30/2021		Contact the Shellfish Program to schedule testing and to obtain required form Collection and Submission Instructions Shellfish Toxin Testing (PDF) Instructional Video	Contact the Shellfish Program to schedule testing and to obtain required form	LC-MS/MS	Test is performed as needed	Within 24 hours of sample collection	Shellfish Related Illness: Questions concerning illness associated with eating shellfish should be directed either to the Local Health Jurisdiction or to the Office of Shellfish Program.	Marine Biotoxins Lab (206) 418-5441 Shellfish Program (360) 236-3328 Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program	National Shellfish Sanitation Program	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Ebola Virus	11/22/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Ebola Virus	Pre-approval required. Contact the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR); multiplexed nucleic acid based in vitro diagnostic test	As needed*	8-10 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations **Confirmation is performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Enteric Pathogen Screen	10/03/2023	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Enteric Pathogen Screen	Pre-approval required. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	All specimens will be analyzed via multiplex PCR. Positive Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio will be confirmed via traditional culture and biochemical methodology.	Daily, on regular business days	7-14 days		Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Fastidious Bacterial Culture Fastidious, Slow growing bacteria	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Fastidious Bacterial Culture	Pre-approval required. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Fastidious bacteria will be isolated using selective and enrichment media and characterized using Gram staining and biochemical workup.	Daily, on regular business days	5-14 days*		Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452	* Turnaround times may be extended when an isolate must be submitted to another reference laboratory (e.g. CDC) for further characterization.	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Fastidious Bacterial Identification Fastidious bacteria ID, Slow growing bacteria identification	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Fastidious Bacterial Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Fastidious bacteria identified using traditional biochemicals.	Daily, on regular business days	5-14 days*		Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452	* Turnaround times may be extended when an isolate must be submitted to another reference laboratory (e.g. CDC) for further characterization.	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Food Safety Screen (pH and Water Activity) pH & Aw	10/14/2022	Requisition Form - Food Lab (file)	Food Safety Screen (pH and Water Activity)	Pre-approval required. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500 and the laboratory 206-418-5442 before shipment of specimens.	Food is tested directly by pH meter and water activity meter.	As needed upon request.	4-14 days	Please notify laboratory (206) 418-5442 before shipment of specimens.	Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Francisella tularensis Tularemia, rabbit fever, deerfly fever	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Francisella tularensis	Pre-approval required. Contact the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR); multiplexed nucleic acid based in vitro diagnostic test	Daily, on regular business days*	8 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations. ** Results for confirmation have a an extended turnaround time (7 days).	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Haemophilus influenzae Identification Haemophilus serotyping	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Haemophilus influenzae Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates are identified and biotyped using biochemicals and growth requirements. Isolates are serotyped.	Daily, on regular business days	3-7 days	Identification performed on Isolates from patients under 5 years old or invasive isolates only.	Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Hantavirus Hantavirus IgM/IgG Serology Test, SNV IgM, SNV IgG	02/16/2023	Requisition Form - Virology (webform)	Hantavirus IgM/IgG Serology Test	Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500	Enzyme-Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay	As needed*	3 days**		Virology (206) 418-5458	* Stat testing is provided with prior approval by Department of Health Communicable Disease Epidemiology (for results on next business day). ** Results for additional testing have an extended turnaround time	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
HIV 1/ HIV 2 Differentiation Assay Geenius	08/23/2022	Requisition Form - Sexually Transmitted Infections (webform)	HIV Differentiation		Bio-Rad Geenius HIV-1/HIV-2 Supplemental Assay	Monday-Friday, excluding holidays	1 day	If the HIV CMIA is positive on a serum, HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation supplemental assay is performed.	(206) 418-5622		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
HIV, CMIA HIV	08/23/2022	Requisition Form - Sexually Transmitted Infections (webform)	HIV-CMIA		Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CMIA): Detection of HIV-I p24 antigen, antibody for HIV-I (group m and group o), and antibody for HIV-2 by Abbott Alinity	Monday-Friday, excluding holidays	2 business days	If the HIV CMIA is positive on a serum, HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation assay is performed.	(206) 418-5622		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Influenza, RT-PCR Diagnostic Flu A PCR, Flu B PCR, Influenza PCR, H5, H1N1, Pandemic swine flu, H7, Avian influenza, novel influenza, influenza subtyping, influenza genotyping	04/15/2024	Requisition Form - Virology (webform)	Influenza Diagnostic Guidance for Medical Examiners Influenza Virus Testing at WAPHL	Pre-approval required under certain criteria. Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence. LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.	Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR)	Three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)*	3 days**	Additional testing methodologies performed for influenza: culture and oseltamivir resistance.	Virology (206) 418-5458	* Stat testing is provided with prior approval by Department of Health Communicable Disease Epidemiology (turnaround time of 24 hours). ** Results for additional testing have an extended turnaround time.	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Influenza, RT-PCR Surveillance Flu A PCR, Flu B PCR, Influenza PCR, H5, H1N1, Pandemic swine flu, H7, Avian influenza, novel influenza, influenza subtyping, influenza genotyping, Surveillance, Sentinel, SARS-COV2	09/25/2023	Requisition Form - Influenza Surveillance (webform)	Influenza Surveillance	Specimens are only accepted from surveillance laboratories (Sentinel Laboratories in WA)*.	Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR)	Once every two weeks	Reports will be generated once a month in aggregate.	SARS-COVS testing performed on specimens with no previous known results.	Virology (206) 418-5458		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Lead and Copper Testing in School Drinking Water	04/01/2021	Lead/Copper Chain-of-Custody Form (file)	Contact the "School Lead in Drinking Water Coordinator" regarding scheduling a site visit for sample collection and analysis. For sampling requirments, see the EPA Lead and Copper Rule information Collection and Submission Instructions Lead and Copper Testing (PDF)	Contact the "School Lead in Drinking Water Coordinator" for prior-approval and scheduling.	EPA method 200.8 (PDF)	Test is performed as needed	Within 10 business days of sample collection	See the EPA official government website for more information. Also, you may call the "Safe Drinking Water Hotline" at: 1-800-426-4791	School Drinking Water Coordination, (360) 236-3248	"3 T's" sampling protocol (PDF)	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Legionella Environmental Testing Legionnaires' Disease, ELITE, Pontiac Fever	02/04/2022	Legionella Chain-of-Custody Form (file)	Legionella Environmental Sample Collection and Submission Instructions Contact the WA EPH Program (360-236-3000) regarding sample collection, submission form, and shipment. Also see CDC sample collection guidance	Pre-approval required. Must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ). LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500	Culture or RT-PCR https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/labs/procedures-manual.html	various	RT-PCR within 2 business days Culture within 14 business days	Questions concerning illness associated with Legionella should be directed to the local health jurisdiction or to Communicable Disease Epidemiology, (206) 418-5500.	Laboratory email is envmicrolab@doh.wa.gov Laboratory phone is 206-418-5489	ELITE Lab https://wwwn.cdc.gov/elite/Public/MemberList.aspx	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Legionella Identification Legionnaire's Disease, Pontiac Fever	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Legionella Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates identified using selective plating and latex agglutination or RT-PCR (Legionella species and/or Legionella pneumophila)	Daily, on regular business days.	3-14 days*		Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452	* Turnaround times may be extended when an isolate must be submitted to another reference laboratory (e.g. CDC) for further characterization.	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Legionella Species Culture (Clinical) Legionella culture, Legionnaire's Disease, Pontiac Fever	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Legionella Species Culture (Clinical)	Pre-approval not required.	All specimens will be tested using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Positive RT-PCR specimens are cultured and suspicious colonies are tested by latex agglutination or RT-PCR.	Daily, on regular business days.	7-14 days*	* Turnaround times may be extended when an isolate must be submitted to another reference laboratory (e.g. CDC) for further characterization	Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Listeria Identification Listeriosis, Listeria monocytogenes	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Listeria Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates are identified using biochemicals.	Daily, on regular business days	3-5 days		Special Bacteriology (206) 418-5452		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)