§ 37:1312 — Definitions

§1312. Definitions
As used in this Part, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the
context requires otherwise:
(1) "Approved school" means an accredited school which offers instruction in any
area of the practice of clinical laboratory science approved by the committee and the board.
(2) "Board" means the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
(3) "Clinical cytotechnology" means the microscopic study or examination of body
fluids, tissues, or cells desquamated from a body surface or lesion for the practice of clinical
laboratory science, including but not limited to detecting malignancy and microbiologic
changes and the measurement of hormonal levels.
(4) "Clinical laboratory" means any building, place, or facility in which an operation
and procedure for the biological, microbiological, serological, immunological, chemical,
immunohematological, hematological, biophysical, cytological, pathological, or other
examinations of materials derived from the human body is performed to provide information
for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any disease or impairment of, or the assessment
of the health of human beings or for forensic testing. These examinations include, but are
not limited to, procedures to determine, measure, or otherwise describe the presence or
absence of various substances or organisms in the human body. A facility which only
collects or prepares specimens, or both, or only serves as a mailing service and does not
perform on site testing is not a clinical laboratory. A laboratory that performs workplace
drug testing shall be covered under this definition unless such testing is specifically excluded
from coverage under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(5) "Clinical laboratory personnel" means any and all individuals engaged in the
practice of clinical laboratory science.
(6) "Clinical laboratory scientist-generalist" or "CLS-G" means an individual who
performs clinical laboratory tests and procedures in all specialty areas of a clinical laboratory
which require the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including but not
limited to the performance of all laboratory tests as stated in the Clinical Laboratory
Improvement Amendments of 1988 and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto. The clinical laboratory scientist-generalist may perform the functions of all
categories licensed in this Part with the exception of the cytotechnologist.
(7) "Clinical laboratory scientist-specialist" or "CLS-S" means an individual
performing clinical laboratory science in one or more laboratory specialties and who
performs functions directly related to such particular specialty or specialties as provided for
in this Part in rules and regulations adopted by the board as recommended by the committee.
The clinical laboratory scientist-specialist may perform the functions of the laboratory
assistant and the phlebotomist without additional licensure or certification.
(8) "Clinical laboratory scientist-technician" or "CLS-T" means an individual who
performs medical laboratory tests and procedures of high and moderate complexity as
defined in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 493 et seq., which do not require the exercise
of independent judgment or responsibility within any area of clinical laboratory science. The
clinical laboratory scientist-technician shall perform tests and procedures of high complexity
under supervision as defined in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988
and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. The clinical laboratory
scientist-technician may perform the functions of the laboratory assistant and the
phlebotomist without additional licensure or certification.
(9) "Committee" means the Clinical Laboratory Personnel Committee to the
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners established by R.S. 37:1314.
(10) "Cytotechnologist" means an individual responsible for examining
cytopathological preparations which require the exercise of independent judgment and
responsibility.
(11) "Laboratory assistant" or "LA" means an individual who performs medical
laboratory tests and procedures under supervision by a licensed health care provider or
laboratory director as defined in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 493 et seq. These
medical laboratory tests and procedures performed by the laboratory assistant do not require
the exercise of independent judgment or responsibility within any area of clinical laboratory
science. The laboratory assistant may perform high complexity tests under supervision as
stated in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and the rules and
regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
(12) "Nationally recognized certification examination" means an examination
approved by the board upon the recommendation of the committee.
(13) "Phlebotomist" means an individual performing an invasive procedure to
withdraw blood from the human body to collect samples for the practice of clinical
laboratory science, including but not limited to clinical laboratory testing for analysis, typing
and cross-matching of blood for medical examination and human transfusion.
(14) "Practice of clinical laboratory science" means the performance by any
individual, other than a physician licensed by the board, of laboratory testing, analysis, or
examination of human specimens.
(15) "Source plasma" means the fluid portion of human blood collected by
plasmapheresis and intended as source material for further manufacturing use. The definition
excludes single donor plasma products intended for intravenous use.

Legislative History

Acts 1993, No. 396, §2, eff. Aug. 1, 1993; Acts 2025, No. 60, §1.