<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 09.14.04.13" title_num="09" subtitle_num="14" chapter_num="04" heading="Blood Tests.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In compliance with the blood testing requirements of Business Regulation Article, §4-304.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, a blood sample from an individual desiring to participate in a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Taken by a physician, phlebotomist, or other qualified health care provider chosen by the individual; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Analyzed by a medical laboratory, certified in accordance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act, 42 U.S.C. §263(a), for the presence of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The antigen of virus hepatitis B.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Only blood tests with negative results shall be submitted to the Commission.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The required negative blood tests:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall be submitted to the Commission by an applicant for licensure as a  contestant, a contestant, or an authorized representative of the applicant or contestant; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>May not be submitted by the person taking the blood sample, the medical laboratory testing the blood sample, or any other person.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The required negative blood tests shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Have been performed within 30 days of the individual's application for a license; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Except as provided in §E of this regulation, be submitted to the Commission:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At the time the application is submitted to the Commission, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Not later than the weigh-in for the first contest in which the contestant is to participate following the submittal of the application.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The Commission, in its discretion, may extend the time for the submittal of the required negative blood tests to a time immediately before the contestant's first contest following the issuance of a license.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>To constitute documentary evidence satisfactory to the Commission, the negative test results from the medical laboratory shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>On the medical laboratory's letterhead; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Signed by an authorized representative of the medical laboratory.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>In addition to submitting the required negative blood tests before a contestant's first contest following the submittal of an application for licensure, a contestant is required to submit the required negative blood tests if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The contestant previously tested positive for the antibodies to HIV or the antigens of virus hepatitis B; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Commission has reasonable cause to believe that the testing of the contestant's blood may not result in a negative test for the presence of the antibodies to HIV or the antigens of virus hepatitis B.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>