Governor signs legislation permitting California dentists to apply for licensure to administer rapid COVID-19 tests in the office

CDA's testing toolkit updated with detailed licensure application instructions, reporting requirements
October 14, 2021
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Quick Summary:
CDA received confirmation from state officials that dentist employers with the CLIA Certificate of Waiver and LFS Lab Registration can administer waived COVID-19 tests to dental team members who are not patients of record to comply with state and local public health orders that are now in effect. Waived tests are simple tests that typically generate results quickly and have a very low risk of incorrect results.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 8 signed into law CDA-sponsored legislation that allows California-licensed dentists to apply for the requisite laboratory licensure to administer rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office. AB 526, authored by Assemblymember Jim Wood, DDS (Santa Rosa), also gives dentists permanent authority to administer FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 and influenza vaccines as described.

Waived tests are simple tests that typically generate results quickly and have a very low risk of incorrect results.

As of Sept. 17, 2022, weekly COVID-19 testing is no longer required in California for workers in dental offices and other settings deemed high risk, but with the authority to administer the vaccines, dentists gained an efficient option for complying with the state public health order while it was in effect.

Applying for licensure: Details included in CDA’s updated testing toolkit

Dentists who are considering expanding their practice to include rapid COVID-19 testing should read CDA’s updated COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Toolkit for detailed instructions on applying for the requisite laboratory licensure to administer the tests.

The toolkit explains and provides:

  • Step-by-step directions for applying for a California Laboratory Field Services Department registration to provide rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office
  • Reporting obligations for dental offices that are administering waived COVID-19 tests on-site
  • New guidance on testing dental team members in accordance with state and local public health orders
  • Explanations of the types of COVID-19 tests approved for use in the dental office 

Access CDA’s updated COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Toolkit. 

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