Laboratory Central Services

Central Services receives clinical specimens and environmental samples for testing at the State Health Laboratories. Staff process and distribute samples to the appropriate laboratory for testing. Central Services also provides sample collection kits and testing supplies. 

Location

Central Services is part of the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories, located at:

150 Richmond Street
Suite 100
Providence, RI 02903 

The Lab building is on the corner of Richmond and Clifford Streets. 

Central Services is at the back of the building and is accessible from Clifford Street. Please note that Clifford is a one-way street. 

TIP: Put "50 Clifford Street" into your GPS and drive down the street until you see the parking lot entrance on the left.

Parking 

A small, short-term parking lot is available for dropping off samples or picking up testing supplies. The lot is on Clifford Street, between Dorrance Street and Richmond Street. (Do not park in the lot reserved for 72 Clifford Street. The Central Services parking lot is located just after this lot.)

Directions

• Drive south on Clifford Street from Dorrance Street towards Richmond Street.
• Look for the entrance on the left that leads back towards the loading docks. See the map on this page for more information.
• Once you park, come up the stairs or ramp and look for the double door that says “Rhode Island State Health Lab Central Receiving.”

Accessibility

The parking lot has an accessible parking space.  A ramp leads up to the building. 

Hours of Operation

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding State holidays). 

Due to lab closures on weekends and holidays, some samples can only be dropped off on certain days of the week.

• Thursdays: No pool water samples are accepted after 12 p.m.
• Fridays and the day before any State holiday: No samples accepted for pool water testing, private well testing (excluding bacteria/E. coli), or testing for nitrates/nitrites, pH, alkalinity, color, or turbidity

Types of Samples Accepted

• Clinical specimens
• Drinking water samples from private well owners and public water systems
• Animal specimens for rabies testing.
  • If you have a live animal such as a bat that requires rabies testing, please call the Rhode Island Water Microbiology and Rabies Lab at 401-222-5588 to arrange for proper drop-off.
• Other environmental health samples, like beach and pool water, food, dairy, and shellfish.

Payment

You must pay for private well and pool water testing when you drop off your samples. The State Health Laboratories accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards. (A processing fee is automatically applied to credit card payments.) Checks and money orders should be made out to “The General Treasurer, State of RI.”