Since we learned last year that the Public Health Ontario (PHO) Laboratory Lyme Disease Serology Tests were to be “covered” for NDs, there have been lots of questions. There was also a great deal of communication between the OAND, Public Health, other Ministry Offices, CONO, LifeLabs, Dynacare and others, to understand how this can work. We now have word from LifeLabs on their process for these tests.

To order this test through LifeLabs, NDs will have to fill out two forms, one is the PHO General Test Requisition, which you can find online here – https://www.hpph.ca/en/partners-and-professionals/resources/Documents/general-test-requisition.pdf and the second is the new LifeLabs Lyme Disease Requisition Form, which you can request by contacting RMA Client Services or from your territory representative.

With respect to the Public Health form, your information goes in box #1, including your contact phone number and your CONO registration number along with your initial and last name in the box that reads “Clinician Initial / Surname OHIP / CPSO Number“. Note: This is the opposite to information previously given to not include your registration number. So, e.g., Dr. Mohamed Lee, ND with CONO registration number 0007, would fill that box “M. Lee (CONO #0007)”.

The only test that NDs can currently order on this requisition form is for “Lyme Disease – Serology”.

With respect to the new LifeLabs requisition form and process there are a few important things to know, as follows:

  • LifeLabs customers will be familiar with their $12 processing charge that they call the “Documentation Fee”. If you are just ordering this one test for a patient, you will be charged that $12. Although the public health lab test is free, the LifeLabs part is not covered, i.e., not free. If ordering other tests for that patient at the same time, that fee is only charged once. Regardless, you will want to charge that documentation fee back to the patient
  • The test is done at the PHO lab and there is no charge for the test itself.
  • Any follow-up communication to the patient is from Public Health, not back through the practitioner. So, you will not be informed of the results, unless by the patient.

If you wish to order this test via LifeLabs you can get more information about the forms or ordering process from your local company representative or by reaching out to RMA Client Services.

Please be assured that the OAND will endeavour to get the government to cover the LifeLabs Documentation Fee as well, to make this test completely free in all circumstances.

We are also hoping to clarify the process for submitting via Dynacare shortly and will report back to members when we do.