Laboratory Services

Over 100 years of service to Montana's Public Health!

The Laboratory Services Bureau partners in the prevention and control of disease and the improvement of community health by providing quality testing in support of environmental and disease assessment and control to programs, health care providers, and the general public at the state and local level.

Sickle Cell Trait for College Sports

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is requiring college athletes to be screened for sickle cell trait, an inherited condition that can cause complications such dehydration and heat stroke during intense exercise. This condition is part of the recommended universal screening panel for newborns, so it is likely college-bound athletes have had the screening, even if they are not aware of the results. If your child was born in Montana and you need sickle cell screening results, please reach out to the MT Laboratory Services Bureau Newborn Screening Program. You will need to complete and have notarized (for identity verification) a "Patient Request for Release of Laboratory Test Results", which can be faxed or emailed to our laboratory (subject line Sickle Cell Result Request). We will get the results to you as soon as possible. If you have a fax number, include it on the form for faster turn-around; otherwise results will typically be mailed to the address on the form.

For more information on sickle cell trait or the NCAA requirement, click on the links below:

What is Sickle Cell Trait? | CDC

Sickle Cell Trait - NCAA.org

Environmental Laboratory, including Water Laboratory Certification and Marijuana Lab Endorsement

Supervisor: Russell Leu, rleu@mt.gov, (406) 444-5259

The State Environmental Laboratory provides the following:

Testing to support the Safe Drinking Water Act
Consultation and certification services to laboratories who perform Drinking Water Analyses
Testing for possible human exposure to identified chemical threat agents
Technical assistance in the areas of analyses selection and results interpretation
Endorsement of Marijuana Testing Laboratories