Resource for Out of Province (OOP) Funding for British Columbia (BC) Clients

In-Common Laboratories is proud to provide laboratory testing services to our clients in British Columbia (BC). Our services include both tests that are funded by the BC Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services (PLMS) program and those that fall outside of PLMS funding.

Below, you can find more information surrounding the process for PLMS funded out-of-country and out-of-province testing through ICL.

Out-of-province/Out-of-country laboratory testing process for publicly funded testing

BC Hospital clients seeking laboratory testing services from In-Common Laboratories (ICL) must apply for and obtain an Out-Of-Province/Out-Of-Country (OOP/OOC) funding letter if they would like these laboratory testing services to be funded publicly. This is a requirement of the PLMS.

Criteria for these letters are set by the BC Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services. If these criteria are not met, or funding is rejected by PLMS, BC Hospital clients will be responsible for paying in full for any laboratory testing services requested through ICL.

OOP/OOC letter requirements

OOP/OOC approval letters are only valid for three months.

OOP/OOC letters are only valid for use once per specimen, unless otherwise stated on your OOP/OOC funding letter. For additional testing, clients must obtain a new OOP/OOC letter.

Please note that timed test orders must be submitted with an individual approval letter.

Please ensure your OOP/OOC letter is completed in full, and includes the following information:

  • Patient name: must match on the issued requisition
  • Valid BC Personal Health Identification (PHN)
  • Issue Date and Application Number
  • Approved test name: must match the test indicated on the issued requisition
  • Approved testing laboratory: must indicate “In-Common Laboratories”
  • In-Common Laboratories’ address must be included on the letter
  • Approved test fee – Please contact ICL prior to submitting an OOP/OOC funding application, as pricing for testing completed through ICL must be approved by our teams

For full information required by the BC PLMS, please visit their website

Specimen collection requirements

  • The specimen samples must be collected during the period the OOP/OOC letter is valid (i.e. within the three months of the OOP/OOC funding letter being issued).
  • Please ensure that the patient brings the OOP/OOC letter and test requisition to the specimen collection site at the time of collection
  • Any OOP/OOC letter submitted to ICL must be valid at the time the requested testing is performed

Shipping requirements

  • The valid OOP/OOC letter and the completed requisition must be sent to ICL with the specimen, within the same box that the specimen is packaged in

Test requisition requirements

Please ensure that the test requisition is completed in full.

The completed requisition must indicate the billing type in order for ICL to process test orders. Failure to indicate this information will result in testing delays.

If you have any questions regarding ICL’s requirements for BC clients utilizing an OOP/OOC funding letter, please contact our team at info@iclabs.ca. We are here to help!

For any inquiries regarding the BC OOP/OOC application process, please contact the BC Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services directly: ooc@phsa.ca or 604-714-2850.

Full requirements for OOP letters can be found on the BC PLMS website