PSC Q301

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is the federal taxonomy used to classify goods and services procured through contracts and reported in FPDS/SAM. PSCs provide a consistent mechanism for recording, searching, and analyzing government purchases and are maintained through the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC Q301 is defined in the PSC Manual as the reference‑laboratory testing category. The manual describes Q301 as covering services performed in a reference laboratory—either comprehensive or specific—such as blood counts, coagulation, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, cytopathology, molecular diagnostics (for example, PCR/NAAT), genetic testing, and drug/toxicology testing. The manual also lists explicit exclusions for services, equipment, and supplies not captured under Q301. ¹

See also on G2X:

• Q508 — Hematology / Oncology (related medical specialty PSC)
• Q515 — Medical — Pathology (services provided by pathologists; excluded from Q301)

What this PSC covers

• Blood counts and hematology analyses. ¹
• Coagulation testing and related hemostasis studies. ¹
• Clinical biochemistry (serum and metabolic panels). ¹
• Histopathology and cytopathology services. ¹
• Molecular diagnostics, including PCR/NAAT testing. ¹
• Genetic testing and cytogenetics. ¹
• Drug and toxicology testing. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | - PSC | Q508 | Hematology / Oncology (related medical specialty PSC) PSC | Q515 | Medical — Pathology (services provided by pathologists; excluded from Q301) PSC | 6632 | Analysis Instruments, Medical Laboratory Use (equipment excluded from Q301)

Common exclusions and intersections

Services or specialties provided directly by a pathologist or a pathology practice are excluded from Q301 and are classified under pathology medical service PSCs. Reference‑laboratory procurements also exclude hematology/oncology specialty services, laboratory instruments and equipment, and in‑vitro reagents/test kits; those items are reported under separate product PSCs. ¹

How Q301 is recorded in FPDS

• Agencies enter the PSC value for a contract action in FPDS data element 8A; FPDS guidance describes how to populate data elements and select appropriate codes. ²
• The PSC Manual directs agencies to select the PSC that represents the predominant product or service when a contract contains multiple line items; where necessary, code individual line items to reflect the primary commodity or service. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What qualifies as a Q301 “reference laboratory” service?
  Reference‑laboratory services under Q301 are those performed by laboratories that provide diagnostic testing on a referral basis and may include hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry, histopathology/cytopathology, molecular diagnostics, genetic testing, and drug/toxicology testing. Consult the PSC Manual for the complete description. ¹

• Does Q301 include laboratory instruments, test kits, or reagents?
  No. Equipment and instruments are reported under product PSCs (for example, analysis instruments), and in‑vitro diagnostic reagents and test kits are reported under supply/product PSCs. These product categories are explicitly excluded from Q301. ¹

• How should an agency choose between Q301 and other medical PSCs for a health‑care contract?
  Agencies should apply the PSC that reflects the predominant service being procured. Pathology and other medical specialties are assigned to their specific medical PSCs rather than Q301. Use FPDS data element 8A to record the PSC and follow FPDS guidance for multi‑item contracts. ²

Useful resources

• PSC on G2X — Q301
• Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual — April 2025 PDF). ¹
• FPDS help / FPDS guidance (FPDS data entry and data element definitions). ²

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual, Fiscal Year 2025 Edition (PSC Manual — April 2025). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf

2. FPDS — Help and documentation (FPDS data elements and user guidance). https://www.fpds.gov/help/index.jsp