The statutory requirements for new patient demographics take effect on 01/18/23 while recording and reporting requirements for sexual orientation and gender identity take effect on 07/18/23.

As part of amendments introduced in 2022 to the New Jersey Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act, all clinical laboratories will have to ensure the reporting of new patient demographics, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender.

Per the December 20th, 2022 guidance issued by the office of Governor Phil Murphy:

The New Jersey Department of Health, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Services (CLIS) is issuing this guidance memorandum to inform clinical laboratories licensed to operate in New Jersey of new statutory requirements that were enacted under the New Jersey Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (the Act), N.J.S.A. 45:9-42.26 et seq. Specifically, N.J.S.A. 45:9-42.45 to -42.49, P.L. 2021, c. 454 as amended by P.L. 2022, c.44, were recently enacted, which require:

  1. Clinical laboratories to record and report certain patient demographic information, namely race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity;
  2. Clinical laboratory electronic medical records systems to include demographic data entry features;
  3. Clinical laboratories to implement cultural competency training programs;

To remain in compliance with the guidance, and the declaration N.J.S.A. 45:9-42.47 with regards to Electronic Medical Record data, the Aculabs Web Portal will be updated to require the inputting of such demographic information when entering a new patient.

Nursing staff will not be able to enter new patients into the Aculabs online system if a selection is not made for any of the following demographic fields: 

Race: A) American Indian or Alaska Native; B) Asian; C) Black or African American; D) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; E) White; F) Other; G) Unknown; H) Asked But Unknown; I) Choose Not To Disclose

Ethnicity: A) Hispanic or Latino; B) Non-Hispanic or Non-Latino; C) Other; D) Other; E) Asked But Unknown; F) Choose Not To Disclose;

Sexual Orientation: A) Lesbian, Gay or Homosexual; B) Straight or Heterosexual; C) Bisexual; D) Something Else (Please Describe); E) Don’t Know; F) Choose Not To Disclose;

Gender Identity: A) Male; B) Female; C) Female-to-Male (FTM)/Transgender Male/Trans Man; D) Male-to-Female (MTF)/Transgender Female/Trans Woman; E) Genderqueer, neither exclusively male nor female; F) Additional gender category or other (Please Specify); G) Choose Not To Disclose;

The full text of the December 20th, 2022 guidance issued by the NJ Department of Health can be found here. 

As well, nursing staff can find video guides on using the online web portal, including adding patients and placing new orders within the online system, and more below: https://www.aculabs.com/support-home/video-training-guide/