Indiana State Board of Health Reporting Requirements

Indiana State Board of Health Reporting Rule 410 requires that all laboratories report positive test results for notifiable communicable diseases at least weekly. Reportable sexually transmitted diseases include Chlamydia genital infection, gonorrhea or syphilis.

Independently, it is the duty of each licensed physician and administrator of licensed hospitals or the administrator’s representative to report all cases and suspected cases of gonorrhea, chlamydial genital infections and syphilis within 72 hours to the local health officer.

Because of the Marion County epidemic, local, state and federal officials strongly recommend that every case of syphilis in Indiana be reported within 24 hours of diagnosis. Laboratory confirmation can be provided after a clinical report is filed.

The reason for healthcare providers to send reports is that laboratory reports do not include required information. Information that is required but often not available to laboratories includes:

street address, city, zip code, county of residence, telephone number, age, sex and race of the patient. Also often not included in the lab reports are the date of onset of symptoms, the name and address of the attending physician, and treatment that the patient received.

Prompt notification to the Health Department allows us to verify appropriate treatment for infected patients and helps to expedite examination and treatment of exposed partners.