Laboratory Services Section

Providing comprehensive public health laboratory services

Vision: A healthy Texas

Mission: Improve health and well-being in Texas

CLIA/CAP Certificates

DSHS Laboratory Rules:
Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 73

The DSHS Refugee Program will no longer cover laboratory testing services effective January 31, 2017  

Effective February 1, 2017, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory submitters who submit laboratory testing requests using the DSHS Program Payor “Refugee” will be charged for the cost of the laboratory testing services.

As a reminder: Please select the appropriate payor for the laboratory testing requested and provide all required information, as indicated on the laboratory submission forms:

Biochemistry and Genetics Specimen Submission Form – Sample, revised 9/2016

Serology Specimen Submission Form – Sample, revised 9/2016

Bacteriology and Parasitology Specimen Submission Form – Sample, revised 9/2016

Virology Specimen Submission Form – Sample, revised 7/2016

Mycobacteriology/Mycology Specimen Submission Form – Sample, revised 9/2016

The DSHS Laboratory accepts the following third party coverage: Traditional Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care, Fee for Service/Traditional Medicare, Medicare Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), and Commercial Insurance Plans such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and others.  

NOTE:  The DSHS Laboratory is not an in-network provider for Medicaid's Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Services for CHIP covered members should not be submitted to the DSHS Laboratory.

Posted: January 3, 2017 

UPDATED

Holiday hours: Christmas and New Year’s submission information

The Department of State Health Services Laboratory will be closed Saturday, 12/24/2016, Sunday, 12/25/2016 and Monday, 12/26/2016 for the Christmas holiday. It will be closed Monday, 1/2/2017 for the New Year holiday. For more information and to view the holiday testing schedule, please view the  DSHS Lab 2016 Holiday Closures/Testing Reminders Notice. 

Effective December 22, 2016 

Thanksgiving holiday hours

The Department of State Health Services Laboratory will be closed 11/24/2016 and 11/25/2016 for the Thanksgiving holiday. For more information and to view the holiday testing schedule, please view the  DSHS Lab 2016 Thanksgiving Holiday Closure Notice. 

Effective November 15, 2016 

Influenza Information for Laboratories

The Department of State Health Services Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Program has updated two documents ahead of the 2016/2017 influenza season.

See the Laboratory Testing Protocol: Influenza Surveillance(pdf, 103kb) document for information on acceptable specimens, specimen labeling and submission for completion, packing and shipment information, a complete list of Laboratory Response Network laboratories, contact information, and more.

The Laboratory Packing and Shipping Diagram (pdf, 131kb) document visually depicts how to pack influenza specimens for shipping. 

Lab testing for clinical disease management purposes in individual patients is not a primary function of public health laboratory testing. Such diagnostic testing, if desired, should be performed by commercial laboratories.

• Laboratory Testing Protocol: Influenza Surveillance(pdf, 103kb)
• Laboratory Packing and Shipping Diagram (pdf, 131kb)

Updated October 10, 2016 

Revised laboratory fee schedules, effective October 1, 2016, are now available.

To view the current Austin Laboratory and South Texas Laboratory fee schedules, please use the following link: http://www.dshs.texas.gov/lab/fees.shtm

Effective 10/1/16

Zika Testing Notification

Notice to all submitters requesting Zika virus testing. Please use the most recent version of the G-2V form (July 2016) for requesting all Zika virus testing and check the box for “Zika, Dengue, and/or Chikungunya”. If you submit the G-2A form or the old G-2V form marked with Zika serology only or Zika PCR only respectively, the test performed by the laboratory will be determined using the most current CDC guidelines for testing and epidemiological information.

For Payor Source (Section 6 of the G-2V):

• Do NOT check a DSHS program as a Payor Source if the patient has Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance; the submitter should provide all insurance information.
• FOR ZIKA-RELATED TESTING REQUESTS ONLY: please mark “Zoonosis” as the Payor Source IF THE PATIENT DOES NOT HAVE Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.

For the most recent information regarding specimen types, specimen collection, and specimen shipping and instructions on how to complete the payor information on the G-2V form, please see specimen collection protocol located at http://www.texaszika.org/docs/DSHS-Chik-Den-Zika-Serology-and-PCR-specimens.pdf.

To request a submitter ID number please complete the Submitter Identification (ID) Number Request Form and follow the instructions for submitting the form.

Change in Laboratory Testing Acceptance Criteria – Specimen Labeling Must Include Two Patient Identifiers

Effective September 1, 2016, all specimens must be labeled with at least two patient specific identifiers; both a primary and a secondary identifier. The identifiers must appear on both the primary container (or card) and the associated submission form. Please see the specimen acceptance criteria update letter for additional details and acceptable patient identifiers.

Submit Zika Specimens Directly to DSHS Laboratory – not CDC

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Fort Collins has requested that specimens for the detection of Zika virus by real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) be submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory in Austin, TX.

Effective immediately, do not ship specimens for rRT-PCR directly to CDC. All specimens for Zika virus should first be submitted to the DSHS Laboratory or an approved Local Health Department Laboratory performing rRT-PCR in Texas. Specimens sent directly to CDC will be forwarded to the DSHS Laboratory resulting in further delay of testing.

For information regarding submission to the DSHS Laboratory, please see specimen collection protocol located at http://www.texaszika.org/docs/DSHS-Chik-Den-Zika-Serology-and-PCR-specimens.pdf. Note: Serum is required for this testing. Please contact your Local Health Department or DSHS Health Services Region prior to shipping to ensure patient meets criteria for testing.

For additional information related to the Zika virus, go to www.texaszika.org.

Visit the About Our State Health Laboratory page to learn more about the Laboratory Services Section and its services.