How to Fax a Lab Order — Send a Test Requisition to the Laboratory
A laboratory test order, or requisition, is the signed document a provider sends to a clinical lab specifying which tests to run, the diagnosis that justifies them, and the patient the specimen belongs to. Labs commonly accept requisitions by fax so the order is on file before or when the specimen arrives and can be matched to the right patient and billing. A faxed requisition gives the lab one fixed document listing exactly what was ordered and who authorized it.
Why this form is faxed
The lab needs the ordered tests, the supporting diagnosis codes, and the ordering provider's signature together so it can run and bill the correct panel, and faxing keeps that requisition intact. Because a mismatched or missing order can hold up results, sending it through a channel that confirms delivery puts the authorization on file in the lab's intake system with a record of when it arrived.
Where it goes
The requisition goes to the laboratory's client-services or specimen-intake line, and the correct fax number is the one the lab publishes for incoming orders or prints on its requisition form. Reference labs and hospital labs sometimes route orders by test type or location, so confirm the number with the specific lab rather than assuming one general intake line.
How to fax Laboratory Test Order
- 1Enter the patient's name, date of birth, and insurance details, and the ordering provider's information
- 2Select the specific tests or panels and include the diagnosis codes that support medical necessity
- 3Have the ordering provider sign and date the requisition so the lab treats it as a valid order
- 4Confirm the lab's order-intake fax number on its requisition form or client-services resources
- 5Upload the completed requisition to Send FAX Mail, enter the confirmed fax number, and send
- 6Keep the confirmation so your office can tie the order to the specimen and follow up on results
Handling sensitive information
A lab requisition pairs the patient's identifiers with the tests ordered and the diagnosis behind them, all protected health information under HIPAA — and some tests reveal especially sensitive conditions. Send it only to the lab intake line you have confirmed; a requisition sent to the wrong number can expose why a patient is being tested.
What’s current · as of July 2026
- HIPAA large-breach reporting threshold
- 500+ individuals — reported to HHS OCR without unreasonable delay Source: HHS Office for Civil Rights
- HIPAA documentation retention period
- 6 years from creation or last-effective date Source: HHS — HIPAA Administrative Requirements (45 CFR 164.316)
Recent updates
Federal interoperability rules keep pushing healthcare past the fax machine
CMS has advanced a series of interoperability rules that press hospitals, payers, and providers toward electronic data exchange and standardized claims attachments. The direction of travel is clear: paper and analog fax workflows are being replaced by digital transmission that carries an auditable record — which is exactly what a cloud fax with delivery confirmation provides for offices not yet on a full EHR pipeline.
CMS →Federal agencies still write fax into new rules and notices
The Federal Register — the daily journal of U.S. federal rulemaking — regularly publishes rules and notices that reference fax as an accepted or required submission channel for filings with agencies like the IRS, SSA, and CMS. That is why fax remains a live requirement for many official forms even as electronic portals expand.
Federal Register →Healthcare breach reporting keeps document handling under scrutiny
Ongoing reporting on HIPAA breaches and OCR settlements underscores how much scrutiny falls on how medical documents are stored, sent, and received. Sending records through a controlled, access-logged channel rather than an unmanaged machine reduces the mishandling risks that show up repeatedly in breach analyses.
HIPAA Journal →
Faxing Laboratory Test Order — FAQ
Labs require the supporting diagnosis to establish medical necessity for the ordered tests, which affects whether the patient's plan will cover them. An order missing the diagnosis codes can be held or billed to the patient, so confirm they are on the requisition before you fax it.
Yes — the lab runs tests on the authority of the ordering provider, so the requisition needs their signature and date to be a valid order. Staff can complete the patient and test sections, but an unsigned requisition is typically held until a signed one is received.
Many practices fax the requisition in advance so the lab has the order on file when the specimen arrives, which speeds matching and processing. Confirm the lab's preference, and keep the send confirmation so you can show the order was submitted if a specimen is ever received without a matching requisition.
Reference labs sometimes split intake by test type — routine chemistry versus specialized or send-out testing — and publish separate numbers. Check the lab's requisition or client-services resources for the right line for your order, since a specialized order sent to a general intake number can be delayed.
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