Your Privacy is Our Priority
Our mission is to is secure our clients’ privacy and protecting their data. Our laboratory has privacy policies, procedures and training in place that are in compliance with applicable privacy legislation. We only collect, use, and disclose your personal information lawfully and responsibly in order to provide our services to you.
Privacy Statement
In this privacy statement, we explain which personal data we collect, why we do so, and in what situations we would disclose it.
When and to whom does this privacy statement apply?
This privacy statement applies when BC Neuroimmunology Lab Inc. (BCNI) handles your personal health information on the basis of privacy legislation.
This is the case when:
- We receive your samples for testing;
- We send your test results to your physician;
- You or your physician contacts us for information regarding your testing/test results.
Which data do we collect?
- Personal identifying information such as your name, date of birth, and provincial health care number
- Medical history relevant to testing that your physician provided us
- Your test results from our laboratory
Why we collect and use your information
- To verify identity
- To provide quality laboratory services
- To match specimens to test results
- To plan, monitor and evaluate laboratory testing services provided by BCNI
- For research, quality improvement activities and statistical analysis of data purposes
- For any other purpose that may be identified before or at the time the information is collected
- For purposes mandated by law
Why we may disclose your personal health information
We disclose your personal health information:
- To your ordering physician and members of your health care team who are copied on your requisition;
- For the purpose of carrying out an investigation as a result of a court order, warrant, subpoena or summons or other purpose as permitted by law;
- To eliminate or reduce a significant risk of serious bodily harm to another person or group;
- For research purposes (only with your consent), subject to restrictions and conditions such as use of only certain set of data to meet a research objective;
- If permitted or prescribed by law.
Accountability: We are accountable to your privacy and accept responsibility to protect your personal information with legislation-compliant privacy procedures and policies, as well as staff training.
Identifying Purpose: We identify the purposes for which we require your personal information to be collected and only collect it under those circumstances.
Obtaining Consent: BCNI operates on the order of your health care provider(s). When we receive your sample for testing along with a test requisition from one of your physicians, we rely on your implied consent to carry out the requested laboratory tests and to collect, use, and disclose your personal health information in order to share the results with your “circle of care”. Implied consent is assumption of permission to collect, use and disclose your personal information based on the fact that you presented yourself at a lab to have your blood drawn and tested.
Limiting Collection: We limit the fair and lawful collection of personal data only to the minimum amount necessary for authorized purposes identified.
Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention: Personal health information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which the information is collected or as required or permitted by law.
Maintaining Accuracy: We ensure that our records are as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as necessary for the identified purposes of collection of your personal health information.
Employing Safeguards: We employ security safeguards to protect your personal information against loss, theft or unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Our safeguards include, but are not limited to:
- Physical safeguards: restricting access to our facilities and locking rooms with paper records;
- Technical safeguards: passwords, encryptions and firewalls;
- Administrative safeguards: role-based access, staff training, and signing a confidentiality pledge.
Transparency: We are open about our management policies and procedures regarding the security and privacy or your personal health information. We can provide more information upon request if you email us at info@bcneuro.ca or call us at 604-822-7175.
Providing Access: We report all test results directly to ordering laboratories and/or physicians as requested.
Challenging Compliance: You may address your question(s) or complaint(s) concerning compliance with privacy legislation to the BC Neuroimmunology Laboratory Medical Director, Dr. Hans Frykman, via email at hans@bcneuro.ca or by telephone at 778-991-5350.