San Francisco Dept Of Public Health Laboratory

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D0000 A proficiency testing desk review survey was performed on April 29, 2026, the laboratory was found not in compliance with the following CONDITION LEVEL DEFICIENCIES D2016 - 42 C.F.R. 493.803 Condition: Successful [proficiency testing] participation; and D6076 - 42 C.F.R. 493.1441 Condition: Laboratories performing high complexity testing; laboratory director. D2016 SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION CFR(s): 493.803(a)(b)(c) (a) Each laboratory performing nonwaived testing must successfully participate in a proficiency testing program approved by CMS, if applicable, as described in subpart I of this part for each specialty, subspecialty, and analyte or test in which the laboratory is certified under CLIA. (b) Except as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, if a laboratory fails to participate successfully in proficiency testing for a given specialty, subspecialty, analyte or test, as defined in this section, or fails to take remedial action when an individual fails gynecologic cytology, CMS imposes sanctions, as specified in subpart R of this part. (c) If a laboratory fails to perform successfully in a CMS- approved proficiency testing program, for the initial unsuccessful performance, CMS may direct the laboratory to undertake training of its personnel or to obtain technical assistance, or both, rather than imposing alternative or principle sanctions except when one or more of the following conditions exists: (1) There is immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety. (2) The laboratory fails to provide CMS or a CMS agent with satisfactory evidence that it has taken steps to correct the problem identified by the unsuccessful proficiency testing performance. (3) The laboratory has a poor compliance history. This CONDITION is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) - 0155D and American Association of Bioanalysts - Medical Laboratory Evaluation (AAB-MLE) records (2025-3 and 2026-1), the laboratory failed to Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 2 -- successfully participate in a proficiency testing program approved by HHS for each specialty, subspecialty and analyte or test in which the laboratory is certified under CLIA, the laboratory failed to successfully participate in the analyte Parasitology ID resulting in unsuccessful performances. See D2055. D2055 PARASITOLOGY CFR(s): 493.829(e) (e) Failure to achieve an overall testing event score of satisfactory performance for two consecutive testing events or two out of three consecutive testing events is unsuccessful performance. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) Report 0155D Individual Laboratory Profile and American Association of Bioanalysts - Medical Laboratory Evaluation (AAB-MLE) report, the laboratory failed to achieve satisfactory performance for two consecutive events (2025-3 and 2026-1) for the analyte Parasitology ID (subspecialty Parasitology): The finding include: 1. Parasitology ID 60% - 2025 third testing event; Parasitology ID 40% - 2026 first testing event; A review of the 2025-3 & 2026-1 scores from American Association of Bioanalysts - Medical Laboratory Evaluation (AAB-MLE) confirmed the above findings. D6076 LABORATORY DIRECTOR CFR(s): 493.1441 The laboratory must have a director who meets the qualification requirements of 493. 1443 of this subpart and provides overall management and direction in accordance with 493.1445 of this subpart. This CONDITION is not met as evidenced by: Based on a proficiency testing desk review of the CASPER 0155D report and American Association of Bioanalysts - Medical Laboratory Evaluation (AAB-MLE) records for 2025-3 and 2026-1 events, the laboratory director failed to provide overall management and direction of the laboratory services. Refer to D6089. D6089 LABORATORY DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES CFR(s): 493.1445(e)(4)(i) (e)(4)(i) The proficiency testing samples are tested as required under subpart H of this part; This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on a proficiency testing desk review of the CASPER 0155D report and American Association of Bioanalysts - Medical Laboratory Evaluation (AAB-MLE) records for 2025-3 and 2026-1 events, the laboratory director failed to ensure successful participation in an HHS proficiency testing program. Refer to D2055 analyte deficiency/deficiencies. -- 2 of 2 --

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D2020 BACTERIOLOGY CFR(s): 493.823(a) Failure to attain an overall testing event score of at least 80 percent is unsatisfactory performance. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of the WSLH laboratory proficiency testing (PT) results, Casper Report 155, Five (5) randomly selected patient records ranging from 11/15/2021 to 11 /25/2023, and interviews with the laboratory's director (LD) and technical supervisor (TS); it was determined that the laboratory failed to attain an overall testing event score of at least 80 percent in Bacteriology which is unsatisfactory performance. The findings included: 1. The laboratory attained a score of 66% for Bacteriology laboratory developed test (LDT) on the analyte "Shiga Toxin"" obtaining Unacceptable Grades for sample SHG-6 Shiga Toxin 1 and Shiga Toxin 2 for the second PT event of 2023 (Q2-2023) 2. Based on the laboratory's annual testing declaration submitted 05/29/2024 at the time of the survey, the laboratory performed and reported approximately 117,808 bacteriology identifications on patients' samples which include LDT Shiga Toxin 1 and Shiga Toxin 2 testing. 3. The laboratory TS affirmed on 5/29/2024 at approximately 11:00 a.m. that the laboratory received the above unsatisfactory proficiency testing score. D3003 FACILITIES CFR(s): 493.1101(a)(2) The laboratory must be constructed, arranged, and maintained to ensure contamination of patient specimens, equipment, instruments, reagents, materials, and supplies is minimized. Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 3 -- This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on surveyor observation during the laboratory tour of the molecular testing lab and interview with the laboratory's director (LD) and technical supervisor (TS) on May 29, 2024; it was determined that the laboratory failed to minimize contamination of patient specimens, equipment, and materials used during specimen processing for the real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Findings include: 1. During the laboratory tour at approximately 3:00 p.m. the surveyor observed the area assigned for PCR sample processing, addition of template, and sample analysis for RT-PCR test took place in the same area/room. In addition, the addition of the template to the 96 well plate was performed in the same room. 2. No documentation of decontamination of sample processing, preparation of master mix, or template addition areas were found. 3. During an interview on May 29, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m. the LD and TS confirmed that the molecular testing laboratory failed to minimize contamination of patient specimens, equipment, and desk materials, when processing samples in the same area/room. 4. The laboratory's testing declaration form, signed by the laboratory director on May 29, 2024, stated that the laboratory performs approximately 19,303 molecular testing samples annually. D3005 FACILITIES CFR(s): 493.1101(a)(3) Molecular amplification procedures that are not contained in closed systems have a uni-directional workflow. This must include separate areas for specimen preparation, amplification and product detection, and, as applicable, reagent preparation. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on direct observation of the facilities layout, observation of the of the laboratory's Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for the presumptive detection of various viral agents, interviews with the laboratory's director (LD) and technical supervisor on May 29, 2024 on its molecular amplification procedure; it was determined that the laboratory failed to ensure that the PCR procedures which are not contained in closed systems have a unidirectional flow with separate areas for specimen preparation, master mix, reagents preparation, amplification, and product detection. The findings included: 1. The laboratory performed PCR testing for the detection of various viral agents such Measles & Mumps, Monkey Pox, and parasitic agent Plasmodium/Malaria etc., using manual methods for preparation of the master- mixes, controls and reagents, and addition of template. 2. During the laboratory tour on May 29, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m. the surveyor observed that processing of the specimens, preparation of reagents, and sample template addition were all performed in the same room/area without unidirectional flow. 3. The LD and TS confirmed by interview that the laboratory's molecular PCR testing was not set up following unidirectional flow. 4. Based on laboratory records, the laboratory performed and reported approximately 19,305 Real Time PCR molecular diagnostic tests annually. D5415 TEST SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, REAGENT CFR(s): 493.1252(c) Reagents, solutions, culture media, control materials, calibration materials, and other supplies, as appropriate, must be labeled to indicate the following: (1) Identity and when significant, titer, strength or concentration. (2) Storage requirements. (3) Preparation and expiration dates. (4) Other pertinent information required for proper -- 2 of 3 -- use. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on the surveyor's observation of the laboratory's reagent materials used in the laboratory and interview with the laboratory's director (LD), technical supervisor (TS), and testing personnel (TP); it was determined that the laboratory failed to label various reagents to indicate the reagent's name, opening, preparation, and expiration dates when such reagents are used in the laboratory. The findings included: 1. Based on the surveyor's observation during the laboratory tour on May 29, 2024 at approximately 2:45 pm.; no opening, preparation, or expiration date labels were used or documented for various reagents used throughout the laboratory. 2. The laboratory's LD and TS affirmed in an interview conducted on May 29, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m. that alcohol, distilled water, and molecular testing reagents used throughout the laboratory were not labeled with the name, opening, preparation, and expiration dates or documented in a preparation log. 3. Based on the laboratory's annual testing declaration submitted at the time of the survey, the laboratory analyzed approximately 172,899 test samples. D6082 LABORATORY DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES CFR(s): 493.1445(e)(1) The laboratory director must ensure that testing systems developed and used for each of the tests performed in the laboratory provide quality laboratory services for all aspects of test performance, which includes the preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic phases of testing. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on the surveyor's observation during the laboratory tour, review of the laboratory's records, policies and procedures, six (6) randomly selected patients' test results records, and interviews with the laboratory's director and technical supervisor on May 29, 2024; it was determined that the laboratory director failed to ensure that several aspects of the preanalytic, analytic and postanalytic phases of the laboratory testing were monitored. See D2020, D3003, D3005, and D5415. -- 3 of 3 --