N.J. Admin. Code § 8:44-2.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:44-2.4 - Supervision

(a) The clinical laboratory shall be supervised by qualified personnel.

(b) The laboratory shall have one or more supervisors who, under the general discussion of the laboratory director, supervise technical personnel and report of findings, perform tests requiring special scientific skills, and, in the absence of the director, are held responsible for the proper performance of all laboratory procedures. A laboratory director who qualifies under subsection (c) of this section is also qualified as a general supervisor; therefore, depending upon the size and functions of the laboratory, the laboratory director may also serve as the laboratory supervisor.

1. Required supervisors: There are two categories of required supervisors. A general supervisor--one who meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section--is on the laboratory premises during all hours in which tests are being performed. With respect to the specialty of diagnostic cytology, cytotechnologists do not examine side preparations unless a supervisor who qualifies pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection (c) of this section or N.J.A.C. 8:44-1.5(c)8 is on the premises at all times. A technical supervisor--one who meets the pertinent requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:44-1.5(c) --spends an adequate amount of time in the laboratory to supervise the technical performance of the staff in the specialty and is readily available for personal or telephone consultation. A general supervisor may also be a technical supervisor in those specialties in which the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:44-1.5(c) are met.

2. Supervision of emergency procedures: When emergencies arise outside regularly scheduled hours of duty, an individual who qualifies as a general supervisor is not required to be on the premises provided that the technologist performing tests is qualified to perform such tests, the supervisor who is responsible for the results of the work reviews them during the next duty period, and a record is maintained to reflect the actual review. Night time, week-end, or holiday duty hours shall be considered as Emergency Procedures.

(c) The laboratory supervisor shall meet one of the following requirements:

1. Is a physician, or has earned a doctoral degree from an accredited institution with a major in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences and subsequent to graduation has had at least 2 years of experience in one of the laboratory specialties in an approved clinical laboratory;

2. Holds a master's degree from an accredited institution with a major in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences and subsequent to graduation has had at least 4 years of pertinent full-time laboratory experience of which not less than 2 years has been spent working in the designated laboratory specialty in an approved clinical laboratory;

3. Is qualified as a clinical laboratory technologist pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of this subchapter and subsequent to the date of qualifying as a clinical laboratory technologist, has had at least 6 years of pertinent full-time laboratory experience of which not less than 2 years have been spent working in the designated laboratory specialty in an approved clinical laboratory;

4. With respect to the specialty of diagnostic cytology, qualifies as a supervisory cytotechnologist because he:

i. Is qualified as a cytotechnologist pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of this subchapter and

ii. Has within the preceding 10 years has 4 years of full-time experience as a cytotechnologist in a laboratory directed or supervised by a pathologist or other physician certified as a specialist in diagnostic cytology or;

5. With respect to individual first qualifying prior to July 1, 1971, has had at least 15 years of pertinent full-time clinical laboratory experience prior to January 1, 1968; this required experience may be met by the substitution of education for experience.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:44-2.4