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HIV, STD, and TB Reporting

 

Reporting Resources

 

Clinical Laboratories


Reporting Requirements

Clinical laboratory directors are legally required to report positive test results (and negative where indicated) to public health authorities and to submit specimens to the NJ Public Health and Environmental Laboratories in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:57.   

Download a printable reportable disease list for Clinical Laboratories

Reporting Timeframes 

Positive test results for certain communicable diseases must be reported immediately by telephone, including cultures suspected of containing select agents. Preventing the spread of these diseases is vital and require an urgent public health response.  

Test results for non-immediately reportable diseases must be reported by the next business day. 

Reporting to the Local Health Department (LHD) 

Reports must be made to the Local Health Department (LHD) where the patient resides, or if unknown, to the LHD where your facility is located. 

  • Find your LHD: Use the Find Your Local Health Department locator to locate your LHD. 

  • 24/7 Availability: All New Jersey LHDs are required to maintain a mechanism to receive and respond to immediately reportable conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. 

  • Emergency Backup: Only if an LHD cannot be reached for an immediately reportable situation or public health emergency, contact NJDOH at 609-826-5964 or on the emergency after-hours number 609-392-2020. 

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How to Report

  • Some immediately notifiable test results must be reported to the LHD by telephone.

  • All test results must be reported through electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) or reporting into CDRSS.

  • Cultures suspected to contain a select agent must be reported to NJDOH by telephone at 609-826-5964. 

Required Information: 

  • Patient demographics (name, age, DOB, sex assigned at birth, current gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity) 

  • Patient home address and telephone number 

  • Test performed and test result 

  • Specimen source or type, date of specimen collection, and date tested 

  • Ordering provider's name, address and telephone number 

  • Reporting laboratory's name, address and telephone number 

  • Upon request, results of other tests performed pertaining to the case

Negative Test Result Reporting 

Negative test results are reportable for certain communicable diseases. Unless already being reported, laboratories should NOT send negative test result for additional pathogens until advised by NJDOH. Further information will be forthcoming.

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Submitting Specimens to NJ Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL) 

Culture isolates and/or specimens associated with specified communicable diseases must be submitted within 3 days of identification to PHEL for additional testing. The PHEL Public Health Laboratory Services Test Compendium contains information on specimen submission. 

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Resources

  • National Notifiable Condition List: Diseases added to the National Notifiable Condition List are reportable in New Jersey. Updates will be reflected annually on the Communicable Disease Reporting Requirements for Clinical Laboratories disease list. 

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