NJAASC has curated authoritative information and a list of resources for our Membership’s reference. We will continue to update this as more information becomes available.
PAST COVID E-BLAST HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED DUE TO SPACE RESTRAINTS AND TO KEEP THINGS CURRENT.
QUESTION ABOUT CLIA LICENSE
Q: Just one question for clarification before I send a communique to my physicians.
When you state all facilities that perform COVID POC tests in their facilities must possess a Federal CLIS certificate waiver does this also include tests being done in physician offices as well?
A: Yes it does. In any setting.
Marcela Maziarz, Deputy Commissioner New jJrsey Department of Health
CLIA CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER
Best,
Dr. Thomas Kirn, New Jersey Department of Health
REPORTING OF TEST RESULTS IF YOU PERFORM YOUR OWN TESTING
All healthcare providers, laboratories, and facilities performing testing for COVID-19 must report COVID-19-positive and negative laboratory- test results (molecular, antigen, serology) to public health authorities electronically through the state’s Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CDRSS). All reported cases must contain complete contact information for the patient and healthcare provider. Outpatient providers and administrators of other facilities should request COVID-19 Quick Start access to CDRSS and report all laboratory test results electronically into CDRSS. See https://cdrs.doh.state.nj.us/cdrss/login/loginPage for Quick Start training and access.
Facilities/providers with a large volume of test reports to report should contact CDRSS Admin personnel to discuss alternatives for electronic reporting: cdrs.admin@doh.nj.gov.
In the interim, providers and facilities should notify the local health department (LHD) by telephone and the LHD should enter the information in CDRSS (with the exception of negative serology results for LHDs only). Persons with pending COVID-19 test results do not need to be entered in CDRSS.
Edward Lifshitz, MD, FACP
Medical Director
Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program
Communicable Disease Service
REVISED ED 20-016:
AS PROMISED, ANY VIRAL DETECTION TEST CAN NOW BE USED
10/22/20
As well please see page 8- section d as regards retesting of a patient who tested positive.
While this has been policy, this is the first time it is incorporated into an ED
NJAASC has been working with the Department for months on COVIDS issues that affect ASCs. We had petitioned the Department to be able to use tests other that those mandated in the original ED.
They listened and are now allowing any test for viral detection.
Antibody tests are still not allowable.
Below, find the pertinent changes and additions
Changes, see page 8:
c: The test performed by the laboratory must be for viral detection.
This means that any test is now allowable.
Iii: All facilities that perform COVID POC tests (such as antigen tests) in their facilities must possess a Federal CLIA Certificate waiver.
This should be obvious, but maybe some centers do not realize that. So if you are testing yourself with your Abbott machine, this applies.
Thus if you are going to do any point of care testing at your facility, you MUST (obviously) have a CLIA waiver.
NJAASC wishes to thank the Department for their assistance on this matter- in particular Marcela Maziarz, Deputy Commissioner, NJDOH and Dr. Kirn and Dr. Adinaro. This is a perfect example of the type of cooperation and collaboration we have with NJDOH, and what we can get accomplished together.
If you are still one of those centers who for whatever reason has not joined NJAASC as a member, well I would think that this is the time to do so!
