Healing arts: clinical laboratories: personnel.

Assembly Member Blanca Rubio's clinical laboratory personnel legislation establishes new parameters for unlicensed staff to assist with moderate and high complexity testing while maintaining strict oversight requirements. The measure defines specific tasks that trained unlicensed personnel may perform under direct supervision, including handling specimens, managing reagents, and operating automated equipment.

The bill requires unlicensed personnel to meet federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards and demonstrate competency before performing authorized duties. Laboratory directors must designate supervisors who maintain physical presence and immediate availability during all unlicensed staff activities. The legislation explicitly prohibits unlicensed personnel from recording test results, conducting quantitative measurements, or performing certain specialized procedures in immunohematology.

These provisions modify existing law that limits unlicensed laboratory staff with high school diplomas to basic specimen handling under supervision. The measure details training requirements covering specimen collection, equipment maintenance, quality control, and understanding of test result factors. By expanding the scope of current criminal statutes regarding unauthorized laboratory activities, the bill creates a state-mandated local program without requiring state reimbursement to local agencies.