CHAPTER 5
STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY
[Prior to 4/20/88, Regents, Board of(720)]
GENERAL REGULATIONS
681—5.1(263) Scope of services.
	5.1(1) Scientific. The laboratory provides analytical and reference services, surveillance information, disaster and terrorism response, population data, microbiological and chemical examinations and other investigations in the areas of disease, newborn and maternal screening, fieldwork and the assessment of environmental quality.
	5.1(2) Consultative. The professional staff of the laboratory provide regulatory review, consultative assistance, and data interpretation and evaluation of environmental effects and scientific needs to persons, agencies, and organizations with interest or involvement in public and environmental health.
	5.1(3) Education and training. As part of the laboratory’s academic mission, staff of the laboratory provide education and training for professional colleagues, educators, students, citizens, policymakers and anyone interested in public and environmental health through appropriate educational methods including, but not limited to, workshops, seminars, and individualized instruction.
	5.1(4) Applied research. The laboratory conducts scientific and management research designed to solve practical problems and to translate basic research to improve public and environmental health.
[ARC 9962B, IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]
681—5.2(263) Specimens examined.
	5.2(1) Classification. This being the state public health and environmental laboratory, specimens submitted to it should have a direct or probable significance to public health, medical management, or the quality and preservation of the environment.
	5.2(2) Who may submit specimens.
	a. 	Licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, and other licensed practitioners may submit specimens for the diagnosis and control of communicable or other diseases in which such tests are required by the state department of public health.
	b. 	Veterinarians may submit specimens involving diseases of animals which are communicable to humans.
	c. 	State department of public health may submit specimens necessary in the conduct of its fundamental responsibilities. Other programs, services, and studies may be negotiated on a contractual basis.
	d. 	The natural resources department may submit specimens necessary in the conduct of its fundamental responsibilities relative to municipal water supplies. Other programs, services, and studies may be negotiated on a contractual basis.
	e. 	Other state agencies, institutions, and municipalities may submit specimens, generally under a contractual arrangement if the submission is to be of a regular or routine nature.
	f. 	Local departments of health may submit specimens when performing official functions of state regulatory agencies. The examination of other specimens necessary in the support of locally directed programs are provided only with prior clearance and cost negotiations.
	g. 	Private individuals may submit specimens to address infectious disease or environmental concerns.
	h. 	Privately owned industries and businesses may submit specimens for environmental studies by prior arrangement with the laboratory on a fee-based contractual basis.
	i. 	Public schools may submit specimens at the discretion of the school nurse, consulting physician, principal, or upon recommendations of the local department of health.
	j. 	Any agency, organization, business or individual impacted by a natural disaster may submit specimens that require biological or environmental testing to assure health and safety.
	k. 	First responders, hazmat teams, the Radiological Emergency Response Team, the 71st Civil Support Team, the FBI, the United States Postal Service and any other officially recognized law enforcement or terrorism response agency may submit samples for identification and confirmation of potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) according to the Iowa Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Response Protocol.
[ARC 9962B, IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]
681—5.3(263) Charges.
	5.3(1) Specimens for which the fee may be waived or deferred:
	a. 	Specimens submitted relating to diseases communicable from human to human, from animals to human, provided such examinations are required by rules of the state department of public health.
	b. 	Specimens submitted under statutory authority by state agencies or designees of state agencies which are involved in investigations or episodes challenging the health of the public or the quality of the environment. Expenses caused by emergency testing may be eligible for subsequent reimbursement.
	c. 	Any specimen when there is probable cause that a direct threat to public health exists. Such tests may qualify for subsequent reimbursement.
	d. 	Specimens submitted related to the confirmation or identification of potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) according to the Iowa Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Response Protocol.
	5.3(2) Specimens for which fees are charged:
	a. 	Specimens submitted under no statutory authority which are part of special investigations or surveillance programs and where there is no direct threat to the public health or environmental quality.
	b. 	Specimens submitted for the submittor’s private information, such as well water samples.
	c. 	Specimens submitted by private concerns and municipalities which are considered to be product quality control measures and, therefore, a cost of doing business.
	d. 	Specimens not covered by statute, by rules of the state department of health, by rules of the natural resources department or in this subrule may be examined and charged for at rates to be determined by the laboratory subject to any limitations imposed by law.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 263.
[ARC 9962B, IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]
[Filed 9/29/52; amended 5/19/75]
[Filed 3/29/88, Notice 2/10/88—published 4/20/88, effective 5/25/88]
[Filed ARC 9962B (Notice ARC 9823B, IAB 11/2/11), IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]