You asked if a patient can obtain the results of laboratory tests directly or can he only receive them through his physician.

A patient can only receive the results of laboratory tests through his physician or other health care provider who ordered the tests.

A Department of Public Health (DPH) regulation provides that “laboratory findings on a specimen shall be reported directly to the licensed provider who ordered the testing…. . and may be provided by laboratories other than the department's laboratory to lay persons upon the written request of the provider who ordered the testing. Laboratories other than the department's laboratory may also provide findings upon the written request of providers who did not order the testing, so long as the requesting provider is statutorily authorized to order such testing…and is providing care to the patient who is the subject of the testing” (DPH Regs. , § 19a-36-D32, attached).

The part of the regulation authorizing health care providers other than the test- ordering provider to receive copies of the patient's test results directly was added in 2005; that portion of the regulation prohibiting reporting lab test results directly to the patient except upon the written request of the provider has been in existence for at least ten years.

JK: ro