Laboratory Fee for Tuberculosis Testing

PURPOSE: This rule establishes a fee for testing specimens for tuberculosis that are submitted to the State Public Health Laboratory. (1) A fee of forty-eight dollars ($48) shall be charged for each clinical specimen submitted to the State Public Health Laboratory for tuberculosis testing. Clinical specimens include raw sputum samples, gastric lavage samples, urine specimens or pleural, spinal, and joint fluids, other exudates or tissue samples. (2) The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) may waive the fee for testing clinical specimens that are submitted from local public health departments or when the director of DHSS determines the specimens are of critical importance for the protection of the public health and safety. AUTHORITY: section 701.322, RSMo Supp. 2001.* Emergency rule filed Feb. 15, 2002, effective Feb. 26, 2002, expired Aug. 24, 2002. Original rule filed Feb. 15, 2002, effective Aug. 30, 2002. *Original authority: 701.322, RSMo 1993, amended 2001.