BUREAU OF LABORATORY SERVICES

The Bureau of Laboratory Services of the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) is dedicated to providing high quality clinical and environmental laboratory support.  It is staffed with approximately 85 dedicated personnel that work from two locations:

Central Laboratory:

    • Administration               • Clinical Lab Services
    • Environmental Lab Services

North Laboratory:

    • Administration              • Environmental Services

The Bureau also serves as a regional laboratory for Texas Public Health Region 6 and a reference laboratory for area medical facilities.  A wide variety of tests and services are available within the Bureau of Laboratory Services.  However, if a needed procedure is not described in the Laboratory Services manual, call the appropriate laboratory section or the Chief, Laboratory Services.  We may be able to help. Tests are made available to Public Health agencies, area medical facilities, veterinarians and , in some cases (potable water testing) to private individuals.  For other than HDHHS facilities, a fee is normally charged to cover the cost of providing the test.  To receive a fee schedule, please call 713-558-3405. Some files in this section are Adobe pdfs.  You will need the free Acrobat Reader software to view this files.  Click here for Acrobat Reader.

Information

General

• Calendar/Holidays
• CLIA certificate (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
• Laboratory Services Administration
• Services
• Site Index
• Telephone Numbers

Forms

Note: all forms are in PDF format

Influenza A/H5 (Asian Lineage)

• Initiating and Maintaining a Chain of Custody SOP
• Chain of Custody
• Human Influenza A Domestic Case Screening Form
• Virology Form

Medical Microbiology

• Medical Microbiology Form

Rabies

• Rabies Submission Form

Water and Dairy

• Water sampling form, Water and Dairy
• Water sampling form, North Laboratory