Office of Communicable Diseases

Information for Health Care Providers

Clinical Laboratory
Role in Reporting Communicable Diseases

Who is responsible for reporting?

What diseases must be reported?

• Alphabetical List
• Grouped by Transmission

What is the timeframe for reporting a disease?

Where does the laboratory report get sent?

What disease agents require that a specimen be sent to the RI Department of Health Laboratories?

What is the time frame for sending a specimen to HEALTH Labs?

What type of specimen can be sent to Health Labs?

How do I send the specimen to HEALTH?

Are there requirements for HOW the specimen is collected?

Who do I call in the case of a suspected Bioterrorism Agent?