Final Rule: WIC Bloodwork Requirements

This final rule amends regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow state agencies the option to defer the collection of blood test data for up to 90 days after the date of certification, so long as the applicant is determined to have at least one qualifying nutrition risk factor at the time of certification. In addition, this final rule will expand the current regulatory standard of the maximum age of blood test data used to assess nutritional risk for WIC certification. Although blood tests may no longer be a mandatory part of each WIC applicant’s certification intake process, such tests are still required for the purposes of assessing nutritional status, nutrition surveillance, providing nutrition education, further tailoring food packages to meet nutritional needs, and referring to appropriate health and social services in the community.