Material Logistics Section
The Material Logistics section serves as the central hub for the issuing of supplies and vaccines shipping and receiving, mail distribution, and the storage and retrieval of all laboratory archival records. These services are essential to the efficient operation of the Bureau of Laboratories and the Environmental and Air Quality Control Laboratories.
The supply unit is responsible for maintaining an appropriate inventory of general laboratory supplies needed to accommodate the demands of the laboratory and for shipping laboratory and specimen related supplies to all DHEC region offices, county health departments, Environmental Quality Control (EQC) activities and to private clients using our services.
Collection kits, request forms and shipping containers for the collection and shipping of specimens are available, free of charge. See Section II of the Laboratory Services Guide for information on supplies available and instructions on obtaining them.
Vaccines may be obtained by contacting the DHEC Division of Immunization, (803) 898-0460. The request will then be channeled to the laboratory for shipping.
Specimen Logistics Section
The Specimen Logistics Section is responsible for the processing of all specimens received for testing and the keying of data necessary for testing and for the short and long term storage of selected specimens.
In addition, the staff responds to telephone inquiries for information and additional service requests, for testing status and for test results. Specimens received without a test request or other essential data are stored for seven days and attempts to obtain this data are made if the client is known.
Serological specimens are held for seven days following testing in the event repeat or additional testing is desired.
Computer Systems Management Section
The Computer Systems Management Section provides computer technology support for the laboratory. Daily operation of the Local area Network (LAN) and connection to the agency's mainframe computer system are the primary responsibilities of the program. These responsibilities include the printing of worksheets and daily reports, the printing and mailing of test results for private clients and the overseeing of the local printing operation for DHEC county health departments.
The assignments of Sender and Billing numbers for new clients and the correction and updating of information on current clients is also a responsibility of this section. Call (803) 896-0810 to obtain a number or correct information. For fees and billing procedures, refer to Section IV of the Laboratory Services Guide.