{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-36.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-36.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-36.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-36.html"}],"law_id":60320,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60320,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-36","catch_line":"Reports by physicians and laboratory directors","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 32-48; 1976, c. 628; 1979, c. 711; 1981, c. 282; 1988, c. 130; 1989, c. 613; 1995, c. 534; 1997, c. 271; 2002, cc. 100, 768.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery physician practicing in this Commonwealth who shall diagnose or reasonably suspect that any patient of his has any disease required by the Board to be reported and every director of any laboratory doing business in this Commonwealth that performs any test whose results indicate the presence of any such disease shall make a report within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations of the Board. Any such report involving a disease that such physician or laboratory director has reason to believe may be caused by exposure to an agent or substance that has been or may be used as a weapon shall be reported directly to the Commissioner or his designee using an emergency response system maintained by the Department and operated twenty-four hours a day.B\n\nAny physician who diagnoses a venereal disease in a child twelve years of age or under shall, in addition to the requirements of subsection A hereof, report the matter, in accordance with the provisions of § 63.2-1509, unless the physician reasonably believes that the infection was acquired congenitally or by a means other than sexual abuse.C\n\nAny physician practicing in this Commonwealth shall report to the local health department the identity of any patient of his who has tested positive for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus as demonstrated by such test or tests as are approved by the Board for this purpose. However, there is no duty on the part of the physician to notify any third party other than the local health department of such test result, and a cause of action shall not arise from any failure to notify any other third party.D\n\nUpon investigation by the local health department of a patient reported pursuant to subsection A, the Commissioner may, to the extent permitted by law, disclose the patient’s identity and disease to the patient’s employer if the Commissioner determines that (i) the patient’s employment responsibilities require contact with the public and (ii) the nature of the patient’s disease and nature of contact with the public constitutes a threat to the public health.\n\t\t\tThe patient’s identity and disease state shall be confidential as provided in §§ 32.1-36.1 and 32.1-41. Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27.E\n\nPhysicians and laboratory directors may voluntarily report additional information at the request of the Department of Health for special surveillance or other epidemiological studies.F\n\n1. Every laboratory located in this Commonwealth shall file a written report with the Department of its inventory of dangerous microbes and pathogens on an annual basis. The laboratory shall supplement this report upon any change in such inventory as prescribed by the Board or immediately if any microbes or pathogens cannot be accounted for within twenty-four hours.2\n\nExcept as provided in this subsection, a report submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department shall cooperate with and may share information submitted to it pursuant to this subsection with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and federal law-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving the release, theft or loss of a dangerous microbe or pathogen required to be reported under this subsection.3\n\nAny unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220617,"text":"Every physician practicing in this Commonwealth who shall diagnose or reasonably suspect that any patient of his has any disease required by the Board to be reported and every director of any laboratory doing business in this Commonwealth that performs any test whose results indicate the presence of any such disease shall make a report within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations of the Board. Any such report involving a disease that such physician or laboratory director has reason to believe may be caused by exposure to an agent or substance that has been or may be used as a weapon shall be reported directly to the Commissioner or his designee using an emergency response system maintained by the Department and operated twenty-four hours a day.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":220618,"text":"Any physician who diagnoses a venereal disease in a child twelve years of age or under shall, in addition to the requirements of subsection A hereof, report the matter, in accordance with the provisions of § 63.2-1509, unless the physician reasonably believes that the infection was acquired congenitally or by a means other than sexual abuse.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":220619,"text":"Any physician practicing in this Commonwealth shall report to the local health department the identity of any patient of his who has tested positive for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus as demonstrated by such test or tests as are approved by the Board for this purpose. However, there is no duty on the part of the physician to notify any third party other than the local health department of such test result, and a cause of action shall not arise from any failure to notify any other third party.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":220620,"text":"Upon investigation by the local health department of a patient reported pursuant to subsection A, the Commissioner may, to the extent permitted by law, disclose the patient’s identity and disease to the patient’s employer if the Commissioner determines that (i) the patient’s employment responsibilities require contact with the public and (ii) the nature of the patient’s disease and nature of contact with the public constitutes a threat to the public health.\n\t\t\tThe patient’s identity and disease state shall be confidential as provided in §§ 32.1-36.1 and 32.1-41. Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":220621,"text":"Physicians and laboratory directors may voluntarily report additional information at the request of the Department of Health for special surveillance or other epidemiological studies.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":220622,"text":"1. Every laboratory located in this Commonwealth shall file a written report with the Department of its inventory of dangerous microbes and pathogens on an annual basis. The laboratory shall supplement this report upon any change in such inventory as prescribed by the Board or immediately if any microbes or pathogens cannot be accounted for within twenty-four hours.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"F2"},"6":{"id":220623,"text":"Except as provided in this subsection, a report submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department shall cooperate with and may share information submitted to it pursuant to this subsection with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and federal law-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving the release, theft or loss of a dangerous microbe or pathogen required to be reported under this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["F","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"F2","prefix_anchor":"F2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"F3"},"7":{"id":220624,"text":"Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27.","type":"section","prefixes":["F","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"F3","prefix_anchor":"F3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13608,"edition_id":1,"name":"Reporting of Diseases","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13607,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","permalink":{"id":201745,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13608,"identifier":"1","token":"32.1\/2\/1","url":"\/32.1\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13607,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disease Prevention and Control","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","permalink":{"id":201743,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13607,"identifier":"2","token":"32.1\/2","url":"\/32.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":74231,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-35","catch_line":"List and reports of diseases and dangerous microbes and pathogens","url":"\/32.1-35\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-35","metadata":false},{"id":66379,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-35.1","catch_line":"Information on health care-associated infections","url":"\/32.1-35.1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-35.1","metadata":false},{"id":60320,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-36","catch_line":"Reports by physicians and laboratory directors","url":"\/32.1-36\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-36","metadata":false},{"id":54576,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-36.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of test for human immunodeficiency virus; civil penalty; individual action for damages or penalty","url":"\/32.1-36.1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-36.1","metadata":false},{"id":70790,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-37","catch_line":"Reports by persons other than physicians","url":"\/32.1-37\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-37","metadata":false},{"id":67340,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-37.01","catch_line":"Posting of information about cases of communicable disease of public health threat","url":"\/32.1-37.01\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-37.01","metadata":false},{"id":54641,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-37.1","catch_line":"Report of diseases infecting dead human bodies","url":"\/32.1-37.1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-37.1","metadata":false},{"id":67194,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-37.2","catch_line":"Consent for testing for human immunodeficiency virus; condition on disclosure of test results; counseling required; exceptions","url":"\/32.1-37.2\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-37.2","metadata":false},{"id":59891,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-38","catch_line":"Immunity from liability","url":"\/32.1-38\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-38","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66379,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-35.1","catch_line":"Information on health care-associated infections","url":"\/32.1-35.1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-35.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":54576,"structure_id":13608,"section_number":"32.1-36.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of test for human immunodeficiency virus; civil penalty; individual action for damages or penalty","url":"\/32.1-36.1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-36.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-36\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1976, chapter 628; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1981, chapter 282; in 1988, chapter 130; in 1989, chapter 613; in 1995, chapter 534<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 271<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 100<\/a> and 768<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77563,"section_number":"18.2-346.1","catch_line":"Testing of convicted prostitutes and injection drug users for sexually transmitted infection","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-346.1\/"},{"id":58930,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/"},{"id":70790,"section_number":"32.1-37","catch_line":"Reports by persons other than physicians","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-37\/"},{"id":76940,"section_number":"32.1-63","catch_line":"Duty of physician, midwife or nurse noting ophthalmia neonatorum","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-63\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":59474,"section_number":"32.1-27","catch_line":"Penalties, injunctions, civil penalties and charges for violations","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-27\/"},{"id":54576,"section_number":"32.1-36.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of test for human immunodeficiency virus; civil penalty; individual action for damages or penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-36.1\/"},{"id":61734,"section_number":"32.1-41","catch_line":"Anonymity of patients and practitioners to be preserved in use of medical records","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-41\/"},{"id":86098,"section_number":"63.2-1509","catch_line":"Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalty for failure to report","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1509\/"}],"permalink":{"id":201755,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60320,"identifier":"32.1-36","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-36","url":"\/32.1-36\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-36\/","token":"32.1\/2\/1\/32.1-36","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reports by physicians and laboratory directors","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-36","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every physician practicing in this Commonwealth who shall diagnose or reasonably suspect that any patient of his has any disease required by the Board<\/span> to be reported and every director of any laboratory doing business in this Commonwealth that performs any test whose results indicate the presence of any such disease shall make a report within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations of the Board<\/span>. Any such report involving a disease that such physician or laboratory director has reason to believe may be caused by exposure to an agent or substance that has been or may be used as a weapon shall be reported directly to the Commissioner<\/span> or his designee using an emergency response system maintained by the Department<\/span> and operated twenty-four hours a day. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any physician who diagnoses a venereal disease in a child twelve years of age or under shall, in addition to the requirements of subsection A hereof, report the matter, in accordance with the provisions of § 63.2-1509<\/a>, unless the physician reasonably believes that the infection was acquired congenitally or by a means other than sexual abuse. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any physician practicing in this Commonwealth shall report to the local health department<\/span> the identity of any patient of his who has tested positive for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus as demonstrated by such test or tests as are approved by the Board<\/span> for this purpose. However, there is no duty on the part of the physician to notify any third party<\/span> other than the local health department<\/span> of such test result, and a cause of action<\/span> shall not arise from any failure to notify any other third party<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Upon investigation by the local health department<\/span> of a patient reported pursuant to subsection A, the Commissioner<\/span> may, to the extent permitted by law<\/span>, disclose the patient’s identity and disease to the patient’s employer if the Commissioner<\/span> determines that (i) the patient’s employment responsibilities require contact with the public and (ii) the nature of the patient’s disease and nature of contact with the public constitutes a threat to the public health.\n\t\t\tThe patient’s identity and disease state shall be confidential as provided in §§ 32.1-36.1<\/a> and 32.1-41<\/a>. Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Physicians and laboratory directors may voluntarily report additional information at the request of the Department<\/span> of Health for special surveillance or other epidemiological studies. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> 1. Every laboratory located in this Commonwealth shall file a written report with the Department<\/span> of its inventory of dangerous microbes and pathogens on an annual basis. The laboratory shall supplement this report upon any change in such inventory as prescribed by the Board<\/span> or immediately if any microbes or pathogens cannot be accounted for within twenty-four hours. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Except as provided in this subsection, a report submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.). The Department<\/span> shall cooperate with and may share information submitted to it pursuant to this subsection with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and federal law<\/span>-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving the release, theft or loss of a dangerous microbe or pathogen required to be reported under this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPORTS BY PHYSICIANS AND LABORATORY DIRECTORS (\u00a7 32.1-36)\n\nA. Every physician practicing in this Commonwealth who shall diagnose or\nreasonably suspect that any patient of his has any disease required by the Board\nto be reported and every director of any laboratory doing business in this\nCommonwealth that performs any test whose results indicate the presence of any\nsuch disease shall make a report within such time and in such manner as may be\nprescribed by regulations of the Board. Any such report involving a disease that\nsuch physician or laboratory director has reason to believe may be caused by\nexposure to an agent or substance that has been or may be used as a weapon shall\nbe reported directly to the Commissioner or his designee using an emergency\nresponse system maintained by the Department and operated twenty-four hours a\nday.\n\nB. Any physician who diagnoses a venereal disease in a child twelve years of age\nor under shall, in addition to the requirements of subsection A hereof, report\nthe matter, in accordance with the provisions of § 63.2-1509, unless the\nphysician reasonably believes that the infection was acquired congenitally or by\na means other than sexual abuse.\n\nC. Any physician practicing in this Commonwealth shall report to the local\nhealth department the identity of any patient of his who has tested positive for\nexposure to human immunodeficiency virus as demonstrated by such test or tests\nas are approved by the Board for this purpose. However, there is no duty on the\npart of the physician to notify any third party other than the local health\ndepartment of such test result, and a cause of action shall not arise from any\nfailure to notify any other third party.\n\nD. Upon investigation by the local health department of a patient reported\npursuant to subsection A, the Commissioner may, to the extent permitted by law,\ndisclose the patient’s identity and disease to the patient’s\nemployer if the Commissioner determines that (i) the patient’s employment\nresponsibilities require contact with the public and (ii) the nature of the\npatient’s disease and nature of contact with the public constitutes a\nthreat to the public health.\n\t\t\tThe patient’s identity and disease state shall be confidential as\nprovided in §§ 32.1-36.1 and 32.1-41. Any unauthorized disclosure of\nreports made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the penalties of\n§ 32.1-27.\n\nE. Physicians and laboratory directors may voluntarily report additional\ninformation at the request of the Department of Health for special surveillance\nor other epidemiological studies.\n\nF. 1. Every laboratory located in this Commonwealth shall file a written report\nwith the Department of its inventory of dangerous microbes and pathogens on an\nannual basis. The laboratory shall supplement this report upon any change in\nsuch inventory as prescribed by the Board or immediately if any microbes or\npathogens cannot be accounted for within twenty-four hours.\n\n 2. Except as provided in this subsection, a report submitted pursuant to this\n subsection shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to\n the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department shall\n cooperate with and may share information submitted to it pursuant to this\n subsection with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,\n and state and federal law-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving\n the release, theft or loss of a dangerous microbe or pathogen required to be\n reported under this subsection.\n\n 3. Any unauthorized disclosure of reports made pursuant to this subsection\n shall be subject to the penalties of § 32.1-27.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 32-48; 1976, c. 628; 1979, c. 711; 1981, c. 282; 1988, c.\n130; 1989, c. 613; 1995, c. 534; 1997, c. 271; 2002, cc. 100, 768.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}