221. CLINICAL LABORATORY GENOMIC SEQUENCING OF SARS-CoV-2

221 CLINICAL LABORATORY GENOMIC SEQUENCING OF SARS-CoV-2 221.1 A clinical laboratory operating in the District of Columbia, a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care facility located in the District of Columbia, or a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care provider located in the District of Columbia must conduct genomic sequencing using a widely accepted methodology for SARS-CoV-2 and in compliance with subsection 221.2 when a resident of the District of Columbia tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing if the clinical laboratory has the capacity to conduct genomic sequencing. 221.2 Each clinical laboratory operating in the District of Columbia, a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care facility located in the District of Columbia, or a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care provider located in the District of Columbia conducting genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 shall: (a) Conduct genomic sequencing on a minimum of ten percent (10%) of specimens from residents of the District of Columbia that are positive for SARS-CoV-2 for each period of time starting at 12:00 midnight on Sunday through 11:59 p.m. on the next Saturday; (b) Submit all genomic sequencing results for residents of the District of Columbia to the Department of Health and the Public Health Laboratory; and, (c) Store all specimens from residents of the District of Columbia that are positive for SARS-CoV-2 for a minimum of thirty (30) calendar days; provided, that if the clinical laboratory lacks the capacity or capability to store positive SARS-CoV-2 specimens for thirty (30) days, the clinical laboratory may request a hardship waiver from the Department of Health. 221.3 A clinical laboratory operating in the District of Columbia, a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care facility located in the District of Columbia, or a clinical laboratory providing services to a health care provider located in the District of Columbia that lacks the capacity to conduct genomic sequencing shall submit all specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 for residents of the District of Columbia to the Public Health Laboratory. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 011091 (October 22, 2021). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Public Health and Medicine 22-B DCMR § 221