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​​Toxicology Approval and
Proficiency Testing Programs

Laboratories that intend to test specimens collected in Pennsylvania for blood lead, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, alcohol and drugs of abuse must obtain the approval of the Division of Chemistry and Toxicology, enroll in the appropriate proficiency testing program(s) administered by the Bureau of Laboratories and continue to demonstrate satisfactory performance.

The Alcohol in Blood and Lead in Blood programs are approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service.  Participation in those programs meets the proficiency testing requirements for those analytes under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.  

The proficiency testing programs are also open to laboratories that do not require approval from the Bureau of Laboratories.

The division also approves testing devices used by law enforcement officials to determine the alcohol content of blood by analysis of a person's breath.

Obtaining Approval

The following documents describe the requirements a laboratory must meet to obtain approval.

Approved Laboratories

The Pennsylvania Bulletin is published semi-annually and contains lists of approved laboratories and breath testing devices. The following links provide lists of currently approved labs and devices.

Laboratories Approved to Determine Analyses of Blood or Serum or Both for Controlled Substances Under The Clinical Laboratory Act, the Vehicle Code, the Fish and Boat Code and the Game and Wildlife Code [47 Pa.B. 5865] [Saturday, September 16, 2017]

Laboratories Approved to Determine Blood Alcohol Content under The Clinical Laboratory Act, the Vehicle Code, the Fish and Boat Code and the Game and Wildlife Code [47 Pa.B. 5867] [Saturday, September 16, 2017]

Laboratories Approved to Determine Analyses of Urine for Controlled Substance Content Under The Clinical Laboratory Act, the Vehicle Code, the Fish and Boat Code and the Game and Wildlife Code [47 Pa.B. 5876] [Saturday, September 16, 2017]

Laboratories Approved to Perform Blood Lead and/or Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin Determinations Under The Clinical Laboratory Act [47 Pa.B. 5892] [Saturday, September 16, 2017]

Minimum Levels of Controlled Substances or their Metabolites in Blood to Establish Presence of Controlled Substance [47 Pa.B. 4045] [Saturday, July 22, 2017]

Approved Prearrest and Evidential Breath Testing Devices [47 Pa.B. 5858] [Saturday, September 16, 2017]