Laboratory Services and Waived Testing
Sets out when hospice staff may do laboratory tests: helping a patient use their own FDA-approved home test, performing waived tests such as fingerstick blood glucose under the Agency’s CLIA Certificate of Waiver, and collecting specimens for a CLIA-certified reference laboratory. Covers the certificate, following manufacturer instructions, competency, quality checks, results and records.
About this policy
- Policy number
- TX-HSP-LAB-01
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 26 TAC §558.284
- Library
- Texas hospice · 59 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 17
In short
- Do only the tests on the Agency’s approved list, such as fingerstick blood glucose, and only with an order.
- Follow the device maker’s instructions exactly, and run quality checks when they say to.
- Use a new lancet every time, put it in a sharps container, and clean the meter between patients.
- Write the result in the chart the same day and report any result outside the ordered range at once.
What's inside
17 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (26 TAC §558.284; 42 CFR §418.116(b))
- 5. Three Kinds of Testing Activity
- 6. Certificate of Waiver and Approved Test List
- 7. Performing a Waived Test
- 8. Specimen Collection for a Reference Laboratory
- 9. Assisting Patients With Their Own Tests
- 10. Responsibilities
- 11. Staff Training and Competency
- 12. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 13. References
- 14. Related Policies and Forms
- 15. Approval
- 16. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Do your nurses do any testing in the home? Show me your CLIA certificate and its expiry date.
- Show me the manufacturer instructions and quality control log for the glucose meters your nurses use.
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