Laboratory Tests

The Pharmacy and Pharmacy Disciplines Act authorizes pharmacists to play expanded roles with patient-administered and medical laboratory tests. In particular, section 23(3) states:

  “23(3) A licensed pharmacist who meets the qualifications set out in this Act and the bylaws, may, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions on that licensed pharmacist’s license, perform all or any of the following practices:........

•   (c) access and use patient-administered automated tests designated in the bylaws and interpret the results of those tests;
•   (d) access, order, perform, use or interpret medical laboratory tests in accordance with the regulatory bylaws made pursuant to this Act and the regulations made pursuant to The Medical Laboratory Licensing Act, 1994.”

For further information and guidance, please review the documents below.

Documents

SCPP has updated the below Reference Manual documents related to laboratory practices outlined in Part M of the SCPP Regulatory Bylaws. This ensures that clear guidance and direction are available to pharmacy professionals, pharmacy managers, and proprietors.

All of the documents below must be taken together as a whole. More detailed information on the changes to these reference documents can be found in the February 2022 edition of MicroSCOPe.

New information in all three documents (these are not policy changes) include:

• Historical review – more information on the “spirit and intent” when this scope of practice was introduced in 2015, including Council direction focusing on drug therapy management/pharmaceutical care;
• Consolidates the relevant federal/provincial legislation in three documents, including how and when they apply;
• Clarifies scope and standards of practice/roles for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns (student/extended) and pharmacy assistants;
• Modernizes definitions pertaining to pharmacist laboratory practices (e.g., self-tests, point-of-care tests); and
• Conflict of Interest policy expanded for all pharmacists. Also includes guidance on what are “medically necessary core pharmacy services” when pharmacy managers and proprietors are expanding services in the pharmacy.

•   Laboratory Tests and Medical Devices (Accessing, Ordering, Performing, Using, or Interpreting)
  • Provides overarching terms, conditions and standards on all authorized laboratory practices put in place by SCPP and other federal/provincial regulatory frameworks.
  • Describes impacts of Collaborative Practice Agreements on ordering tests.
•   Laboratory Tests – Sale and Distribution of Medical Testing Devices and Other Diagnostic Products
  • Correction on what is permitted when demonstrating a test. A sample must not be taken;
  • SCPP policy when selling/distributing testing devices as part of federal/provincial publicly-funded programs or as part of private third-party arrangements.
•   Laboratory Tests – Performing Tests for Drug Therapy Management
  • Note: Pharmacies/pharmacists performing tests must be authorized under a medical laboratory license ( see here).
  • Outlines the pharmacy requirements and standards of practice for pharmacists as required by the SCPP and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan Laboratory Quality Assurance Program ( see here).