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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
Aerobic Bacterial Culture	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Aerobic 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.	Bacteria of interest will be isolated using selective and enrichment media and characterized using Gram staining and biochemical workup.	Daily, on regular business days	7-14 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)
Aerobic Bacterial Identification Aerobes	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Aerobic Bacterial Identification	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 clinical isolates will be identified by using biochemical and available molecular methods.	Daily, on regular business days	3-10 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)
Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ASP, Domoic acid, 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 for required prior approval for testing	Quilliam Method, HPLC Diode Array Detection	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	National Shellfish Sanitation Program	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Anaerobic Bacterial Culture Anaerobic isolation. Anaerobes	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Anaerobic 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.	Isolation and identification of pathogenic anaerobic organisms by selective plating and biochemicals.	Daily, on regular business days	10-20 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)
Anaerobic Bacterial Identification Anaerobes	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Anaerobic Bacterial Identification	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 clinical isolates will be identified by using biochemical and available molecular methods.	Daily, on regular business days	10-20 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)
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Sensitivity, MRSA, VRSA, VISA, Multidrug resistant, Minimal inhibition testing	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates are tested using Kirby-Bauer and/or E-test for epidemiological purpose or upon request.	Monday-Thursday, excluding holidays	4-7 days	See CRE Screening Surveillance for CRE sensitivity testing. Sensitivities are performed on organisms that have CLSI guidelines for interpretation. Sensitivity is performed on N. meningitidis from sterile sites 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)
Archival Isolate Epidemiology, Archive, State Request	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Archival Isolate	Pre-approval not required.	Frozen for archive for epidemiological purposes	Not applicable	Not applicable	Isolate will not be tested.	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)
Arsenic in Geoduck Testing	03/30/2021		Contact the Shellfish Program to schedule testing Three geoduck samples per sampling site are required for testing Collection and Submission Instructions Arsenic in Geoduck Testing (PDF)	Inquire with the laboratory for the required chain of custody form	Washington State Laboratories protocol (HPLC-ICP-MS)	Test is performed as needed (for international export of geoducks)	Turn around times may vary. Generally within 3 weeks of sample collection.	For geoduck inspection and export certification information, contact your local seafood inspection office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)	Shellfish Program (360) 236-3328 Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program	Shellfish Chemistry Lab (206) 418-5441	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) Bacillus anthracis, B. anthracis, anthrax, Rule out Bacillus anthracis, R/O Bacillus anthracis, Rule out B. anthracis, R/O B. anthracis	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Bacillus anthracis	Pre-approval required. Contact the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence and the 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 an extended turnaround time (48 hours)	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Bacillus cereus (Environmental) foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak	10/14/2022	Requisition Form - Food Lab (file)	Bacillus cereus (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)
Bordetella pertussis Confirmation Whooping cough, Pertussis	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Bordetella pertussis Confirmation	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates will be confirmed by Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA).	Daily, on regular business days	2-5 days	Please do not send mixed culture or media contaminated with fungus.	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)
Bordetella pertussis Culture Whooping cough, Pertussis	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Bordetella pertussis 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.	Swab will be plated on selective media, and suspicious growth tested with Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) and biochemicals.	Daily, on regular business days	7-10 days	Please use Dacron or rayon swabs for collection. Cotton swabs are toxic to B. pertussis. Additional testing methodologies are performed for B. pertussis: RT-PCR.	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)
Bordetella pertussis, Bortadella parapertussis Real-Time PCR. Pertussis, B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, Whooping cough	09/07/2018	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Bordetella pertussis, Bortadella parapertussis, Real-Time PCR	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 Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)	Once a week (Thursdays)*	5 days*	Additional testing methodology performed for B. pertussis: Culture.	Molecular Laboratory (206) 418-5563	* Stat testing is provided with prior approval by Department of Health Communicable Disease Epidemiology (for results on next business day).	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Brucella spp. Brucella suis, Brucella canis, Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucellosis, undulant fever, Malta fever, Gibralter fever, Mediterranean fever.	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Brucella spp.	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 Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), standard reference procedures for biochemical identification	Daily, on regular business days*	8 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations. ** Results for confirmation have an extended turnaround time (15 days).	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Burkholderia mallei B. mallei, Glanders	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Burkholderia mallei	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 Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), standard reference procedures for biochemical identification	Daily, on regular business days*	8 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations. ** Results for confirmation have 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)
Burkholderia pseudomallei B. pseudomallei, Whitmores Disease, melioidosis	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Burkholderia pseudomallei	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 Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), standard reference procedures for biochemical identification, susceptibility	Daily, on regular business days*	8 hours**		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations. ** Results for confirmation have 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)
Campylobacter Identification Campylobacter confirmation, Confirm Campylobacter jejuni or coli	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Campylobacter Identification	Pre-approval not required.	Isolates confirmed using biochemicals. Specimens may be forwarded to the CDC for speciation.	Daily, on regular business days.	2-7 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)
Chemical Incident Response (CIR) Chemical Emergency Response, Chemical Exposure, Chemical, Lead, Metals, Pesticides, Toxins, Poison, Poisons, Blood Lead, Child Lead and Chemicals.	11/12/2021	Biothreat Environmental Sample Submission and Chain-of-Custody Form (file)	Contact your Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) or your local law enforcement for their specimen submission instructions. Chemical Exposure Test Request Specimen-Collection Protocol for a Chemical-Exposure Incident Collection and Submission Instructions for Chemical Incident Response Testing Shipping Blood Specimens after a Chemical Exposure Incident Shipping Urine Specimens after a Chemical Exposure Incident Lead Fingerstick Instructions	Pre-approval required LHJ or law enforcement will contact CIR laboratory personnel Local Health Jurisdictions	Multiple, LRN-C Level 2 CDC Lab Response Network for Chemical Threats	Tests are performed as needed	ASAP depending on workload and the test(s) requested	Contact LHJ or your local law enforcement office to request testing If you suspect a specific chemical exposure, include that information in the sample form Notify your local law enforcement of any suspected criminal activity Local Health Jurisdictions	Chemical Incident Response Laboratory 206-418-5520		Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Clostridium botulinum toxin Botulism, Bot toxin, C. botulinum	06/30/2022	Requisition Form - Bioterrorism (webform)	Clostridium botulinum toxin	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 Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Mouse bioassay, ELISA, standard reference procedures for biochemical identification	Daily, on regular business days*	4-14 days		Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562	* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Clostridium perfringens (Environmental) Enteritis necroticans, foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak	10/14/2022	Requisition Form - Food Lab (file)	Clostridium perfringens (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)
Coccidioides AB EIA	06/01/2022	Requisition Form - Microbiology (webform)	Coccidioides AB EIA Specimen 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.	Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (EIA)	As needed	1-3 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)
Total and Fecal Coliform in Shellfish Wet Storage Testing Fecal, Coliform, E. coli, contamination, Recirculating Water, Shellfish Growing Tank, Wet Storage	04/07/2021	Shellfish Bacteriology Water Quality - Recirculating (file)	Fecal Coliform Shellfish Wet Storage (PDF) https://www.fda.gov/food/federalstate-food-programs/national-shellfish-sanitation-program-nssp	Contact the Shellfish Program for approval of testing	Multiple Tube Fermentation using Lauryl Tryptose Broth. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater: 9221 B.	Monday- Wednesday 8AM-4PM and Thursday 8AM-1PM	3-7 business days after receipt of sample	Enteric Pathogen Related Illness: Questions concerning illness associated with enteric pathogens should be directed to the Local Health Jurisdiction	Water Bacteriology Lab (206) 418-5441 Shellfish Program (360) 236-3328 Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program	National Shellfish Sanitation Program Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Fecal Coliform in Marine Water Fecal, Coliform, E. coli, Marine Water Testing, Shellfish Growing Areas	04/07/2021		Collection and Submission Instructions Fecal Coliform Marine Water (PDF)	Contact the Shellfish Program for approval of testing	Multiple Tube Fermentation using MA-1 Medium. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater: 9221 E.	Monday - Friday 8AM - 1PM	Within 48 hours of sample receipt	Enteric Pathogen Related Illness: Questions concerning illness associated with enteric pathogens should be directed to the Local Health Jurisdiction	Water Bacteriology Lab (206) 418-5441 Shellfish Program (360) 236-3328 Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program	Test cost: Inquire with the Water Bacteriology Lab National Shellfish Sanitation Program Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference	Notifiable Conditions Overview List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
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)