Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-07-29
Laboratories
For Marriage
Tests Named

ICd1SlSIl, July AS-- Ilc OCdIC DOo1 ~
of Health has announced a list of
|31 laboratories, distributed through
out North Carolina, where WaSser-
mann tests may be made for can
didates for marriage, under the pro-
visions of Chapter 314, Public Laws
of 1889, familiarly known as the
Marriage Law.
Until an accredited list could be
set up,'' said DR.. Carl V. Reynolds,
State health officer, in making the
announcement, call tests had to be
made at the State Laboratory of Hy-
giene, in Raleigh, of which DR.. John
H. Hamilton is the director. This
mot only necessitated delay but 1t
also threw an excessive load OF
work on this laboratory. Now that
such a list has been approved" he
went on, "these delays should be
greatly reduced, if not in time
elimated altogether. Of course, there
is always the process of getting any
thing entirely new to working
smoothly, but patience is necessary,
as it was in this matter, pending
what we have just accomplished
DR.. Reynolds added that all specl-
mems that are sent to the State Lab
oratory of Hygiene by candidates for
marriage should be mailed under
separate cover and properly identl-
fled. as coming from those wishing to
apply for marriage licenses, in order
that they may be returned promptly.
Otherwise, he said, they will be
treated as routine business, when
sent in bulk, and reports will be re-
turned on the same form.
DR.. Hamilton, who conferred with
DR.. Reynolds prior to the announce
ment of the list of accredited lab
oratories, emphasized the fact that,
with what he termed "this progress
Isive step," persons throughout North
Carolina now are assured of speedy
determinations as to whether they
are infected with syphilis; also, that
a report from any of these labora-
tories will meet the requirements,
the same as a report based on a
test made at the State laboratory.
Further, DR.. Hamilton suggested
that with facilities for making tests
now available throughout the State,
the services of these laboratories be
utilized, in order to relieve the con-
gestion in Raleigh.
He continued:
"All laboratories that have been
given approval will be required to
participate in evaluation studies and
any time one should become lack
ing in proficiency, it will be strick-
en- from the approved list. Original
approval is given on the basis of the
qualification of a laboratory's per-
sonnet"
To clarity the situation still furth-
er, DR.. Reynolds said, explaining
the procedure for carrying out the
provisions of the marriage law:
"The original Wassermann report
from the laboratory where the test
is made must be taken, together
with the original certificate from the
physician making the required ex-
animation of the candidate for mar
riage, to the Register of Deeds of the
county where the license is applied
for. The Register of Deeds, in turn,
issues or disallows each license ac-
cording to the information presented
to him. The examining physician is
required by law to send a copy of
the physical examination certificate
issued by him to the State Board of
Health in Raleigh"
Approved Laboratories
The laboratories approved by the
State Board of Health for making
Wassermann tests are as follows:
Clinical laboratory, 223 Sunset
avenue, Asheboro; City of Asheville
Health Department; William Leroy
Dunn CLINICAL Laboratory, Asheville;
Yadkin Hospital Clinical Laboratory,
Care DR.. w. T. Shaver, Albermarle;
Charlotte Health Department Lab
oratory; Duke Hospital Laboratory,
Durham; Durham County Depart
|ment of Health; Laboratory of DR..
William M. Coppridge, Durham; Lab
oratory Of Watts Hospital, Durham;
Cumberland County Health Depart
ment of Health, Fayetteville;
Greensboro City Health Depart
ment Laboratory; Hamlet Hospital,
Hamlet; High Point City Health De-
partment Laboratory; Craven Clinic