Texas Department of State Health Services

Expired Test Kits Notice (PDF 65kb)
Effective 05/31/12

The proposed rules concerning laboratory fees that will be presented at the February 23, 2012 DSHS Council meeting are available for your review here: Proposed Preamble and Rule Text. The Council meeting is an open meeting under Texas law, and the Council will allow interested members of the public to speak before the Council votes on whether to recommend to the HHSC executive commissioner that the rules be proposed in the Texas Register. Information about the DSHS Council meetings is available at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/council/default.shtm. If the proposed amendments are published in the Texas Register, there will be an official 30-day public comment period during which DSHS will accept written comments regarding the proposed rule changes
Posted 02/02/12

Revised rules concerning fees for laboratory services (PDF 132kb)
Effective 12/20/11

Newborn Screening Healthcare Provider Requirements regarding the Use and Storage of Newborn Screening Blood Spot Cards
Effective 12/20/11

Notice of upcoming changes to the WHL specimen submission process
Effective 11/23/11

Revised M-47 Specimen Submission Form
Effective 10/26/11

Revised G-1B, G-2A, G-2B, and G-THSTEPS Specimen Submission Forms
Effective 08/10/11

Submitters, please take five minutes to help us improve our DSHS Laboratory services in Austin, Texas by completing this Laboratory survey (link expired). Available until August 1, 2011.
Effective 06/03/11

The DSHS Laboratory will no longer accept serum specimens that have been collected in serum separator tubes (SST) and frozen
Effective 04/09/11

Important update for customers using FedEx for Dangerous Goods shipping (PDF 33kb)
Effective 01/10/11

2010 Holiday Instructions for Mailing Clinical Chemistry Specimens to the DSHS Laboratory (PDF 24kb)
Effective 10/10

Testing is now reinstated for the Coxiella burnetii (Q-Fever) Antibody IgG test at the DSHS Laboratory. For more information, please view the Serology Specimen Acceptance Criteria (PDF 85k) or contact Eleanor Williams via email or phone at 512-458-7514 (888-963-7111, ext. 7514 toll free).
Effective 09/20/10

The DSHS Laboratory will no longer offer Triple Screen testing
Effective 09/01/10

Learn about and complete the Laboratory Client Satisfaction Survey (link expired), for those who submit specimens to the Laboratory.
Deadline 08/23/10

Notice to Newborn Screening Customers regarding types of screening kits (NBS3 and NBS4)
Effective 06/25/10

Revised G-1B, G-2A, G-2B, and new G-THSTEPS Specimen Submission Forms
Effective 06/01/10

New requirements for submitting triple screen specimens
Effective 02/26/10

Change in Policy on Accepting Payment for Specimens/Samples submitted after 5:00pm (PDF 25kb)
Effective 02/01/10

Acceptance/rejection criteria for Water Bacteriology tests
Effective 01/01/10

Instructions for collecting a water sample (PDF 17kb)

Newborn Screening Fee Increase and Cystic Fibrosis
Effective 12/01/09

DSHS Begins Screening Newborns for Cystic Fibrosis - En español
Effective 12/01/09

2009 Holiday Instructions for Mailing Clinical Chemistry Specimens to the DSHS Laboratory (PDF 25kb)
Effective 10/09

Effective immediately, Coxiella burnetii (Q-Fever) Antibody IgG test is temporarily suspended at the DSHS Laboratory due to unavailability of reagents for testing. Please contact a commercial reference laboratory for Q-Fever testing, if needed. We will reinstate testing as soon as we are able to obtain new reagents for this test.
Effective 10/28/09

View the newest issue of our quarterly newsletter and sign up for email updates online - The Laboratorian: News from the DSHS Laboratory
Effective 10/01/09

New guidelines for laboratory testing protocol for the surveillance of Novel H1N1 Influenza and Seasonal Influenza (PDF 182kb).
Click here to view the web version.
Effective 09/25/09

New Requirements for Physicians or Persons Attending the Birth of a Newborn
Effective 08/01/09

Starter Label Set and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 36kb) or FAQ web page

Submitter Requirements - NBS Sample Usage Packet (PDF 110kb), includes:
- Brief summary of new legislation (HB 1672) including healthcare provider responsibilities
- Laboratory interim and long term plan to address the new legislation
- Example of specimen demographic form with provisional sticker placement
- New form “Use and Storage of Newborn Screening Bloodspot Cards” in English and Spanish
  - Directive to Destroy Newborn Screening Blood Sample Following Testing (PDF 55kb)
  - Instrucción para destruir la tarjeta de recogida de gotas de sangre para pruebas de detección en recién nacidos después de las pruebas (PDF 56kb)

View our newsletter and sign up for email updates online - The Laboratorian: News from the DSHS Laboratory
Effective 07/01/09

Understanding Swine Influenza Kit Test Results
Effective 05/02/09

Fact Sheets for Patients:
- Understanding Swine Influenza Test Kit Results (PDF 30kb)
- Understanding CDC Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel for Respiratory Specimens (NPS, NS, TS, NPS/TS, NA¹) and Viral Culture Test Results (PDF 36kb)
Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers:
- Interpreting Swine Influenza RT-PCR Detection Panel Test Results (PDF 39kb)
- Interpreting CDC Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel for Respiratory Specimens (NPS, NS, TS, NPS/TS, NA¹) and Viral Culture Test Results (PDF 43kb)

DSHS Laboratory Services Section reminds everyone who submits blood specimens in serum separator tubes to adhere to manufacturer’s instructions, including proper collection, volume requirement, and centrifugation to insure complete separation of serum before shipping for testing. Manufacturer’s instructions can be found at: http://www.bd.com/vacutainer/pdfs/blood_collection_tubes_product_insert_VDP40035.pdf (PDF 517kb)
Effective 03/12/09

As of January 1, 2009, the S3620 code is again a recognized payable Newborn Screening billing code for TRICARE beneficiaries. Click here for a printable notice with details. (PDF 34kb)
Effective 01/01/09

Starting March 2, 2009, specimens collected in expired tubes will be rejected. Please look through your stock, note expiration dates, and discard any expired stock. For any questions or to place an order for new stock, please call (512) 458-7661 or fax your request to (512) 458-7672. Click here for a printable version of this notice. (PDF 32kb)
Effective 03/02/09

Change in criteria for specimens submitted for syphilis (RPR and TPPA), HIV, and Hepatitis C testing.
Click here to access the Serum Specimen Criteria information page.
Effective 03/12/09

Non-THSteps Submitters:
- Second notification letter (03/06/09)
- Letter with further details (02/19/09)
- To access the survey: open as Word DOC (62kb) or open in Adobe PDF (24kb)
THSteps Submitters:
- Second notification letter (03/10/09)
- Letter with further details (02/19/09)
- To access the survey: open as Word DOC (62kb) or open in Adobe PDF (24kb)

Bordetella pertussis Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) specimen acceptance/rejection criteria
Effective 12/01/08

EHEC EIA for the detection of Shigatoxin acceptance/rejection criteria
Effective 12/01/08

Clinical viral specimen acceptance/rejection criteria
Effective 12/01/08

DSHS Results-Web Portal
Effective 09/2008

Revised G-1B, G-1C, G-2A, G-2B, F40-A, and F40-B Specimen Submission Forms
Effective 09/2008

2008 NBS Remote Data Pilot Project letter, security forms, and availability request:

Confidentiality and Non-disclosure Agreement (PDF 25k)
Facility Security Agreement (PDF 21k)
Web Services Access Request Form (PDF 52k)

Revised G-1B and F40 Specimen Submission Forms
Effective 04/2008

Notices of conversion from COHORT to LabWare, beginning late March 2008:

Survey: Newborn Screening (NBS) HL7 Data Transfer Capability
Effective 02/08/08 - 09/01/08

New Serology Specimen Acceptance Criteria (PDF 85k)
Effective 01/01/08

Holiday Instructions: Mailing Specimens to the DSHS Laboratory
Effective 12/10/07

Revised Hepatitis and Rubella specimen acceptance/rejection criteriara
Effective 12/01/07

Specimens for lead and total hemoglobin testing must be received within 10 days of collection
Effective 10/01/07

Notices of revised testing fee schedule, effective 09/01/07:

Specimen acceptance/rejection guidelines for submission of Arbovirus serology specimens
Effective 05/08/07

New requirements for packaging and shipping rabies specimens
Effective 03/12/07

The cost of a newborn screening specimen kit is set to increase
Effective 11/01/06

South Texas Laboratory (STL) will be changing the F40-11036 specimen submission form
Effective 09/01/06

Specimen submission forms to include the new National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Effective 04/05/06

Proposed amendments to existing rules concerning Newborn Screening (NBS)
Effective 03/15/06

New specimen acceptance criteria for Mycobacteria cultures
Effective 01/02/06

New specimen acceptance criteria for Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN) testing
Effective 07/15/05

New specimen acceptance criteria for RPR testing
Effective 07/22/05

Acceptance/Rejection Criteria for Prenatal Triple Screen specimens
Effective 07/1/05

Shipping Changes for Cholesterol, Lipid profile, and Glucose Specimens
Effective 07/15/05

Stakeholder feedback requested on impact of increasing maximum cap on Lab fees
Effective 06/03/05

Acceptance/Rejection Criteria for CSF specimen testing
Effective 06/20/05

Shipping Changes for Cholesterol, Lipid profile, and Glucose Specimens
Effective 06/15/05

New specimen submission forms: G-1B, G-1C, G-2A, & G-2B
Effective 06/01/05

Acceptance/Rejection Criteria for Clinical Chemistry Testing
Effective 03/15/05

"Date of Collection" Required on all Specimen Submission Forms
Effective 02/14/05

"Payor Source" Billing Changes
Effective 02/01/05

Acceptance/rejection guidelines for the culture of mycobacteria from blood specimens
Effective 10/15/04

Specimen acceptance/rejection guidelines for selected tests
Effective 10/07/04

Note: External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.

Laboratory Correspondence and Bulletins