Public Health Laboratory Testing

Directory of Services

To obtain a listing of the tests available at the Montana Public Health Laboratory, and the appropriate specimen types, transport conditions, CPT codes, fees, and approximate turn around times, click below for the on-line Montana Laboratory Services Manual**.

Click here to view the Montana Laboratory Services Manual (Reflects updated pricing effective January 1, 2024) **Please contact MTPHL with any questions that are not addressed in this manual. Please note that serum samples that are referred to CDC should be sent frozen

Click here to view the Public Health Laboratory Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2024)

Ordering Supplies

Supplies can be ordered here on our laboratory portal. Instructions on how to order supplies can be found on our online ordering and results page.

CLIA Certificate

The Montana Public Health Laboratory is a CLIA certified laboratory. Click to download a copy of the current CLIA Certificate of Compliance.

Communicable Disease Reporting

For Reference Only. A customizable copy of  the "Laboratory Reporting of Communicable Diseases in Montana" is available from local health departments.

As part of the new Communicable Disease Rules, even though the isolation is not reportable, laboratories are required to submit to the Montana Public Health Laboratory suspect or confirmed isolates of Vancomycin-Resistant or Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA/VISA) and Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). If you have questions, contact us by email or by calling (800) 821-7284.

Surveillance/Confirmation Specimen Submission

The World Health Organization describes public health surveillance as the continuous, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data needed for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. Such surveillance can:

  • serve as an early warning system for impending public health emergencies;
  • document the impact of an intervention, or track progress towards specified goals; and
  • monitor and clarify the epidemiology of health problems, to allow priorities to be set and to inform public health policy and strategies.

The success of diagnostic and surveillance programs is dependent upon the quality of specimens and completeness of information that are submitted.

Please click the following link for isolates required to be sent to the Montana Public Health Laboratory for confirmation or further characterization: 

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MTDPHHS/bulletins/3365119