All biological samples or specimens taken from Rhode Island residents for the purpose of performing laboratory culture for tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) or for determining antibiotic sensitivities of cases of tuberculosis, by or under the direction or order of any physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, shall be sent to the Rhode Island department of health laboratory for analysis. Those biological samples or specimens may be split at the time of procurement to permit one portion of the sample or specimen to be sent to the department of health laboratory for analysis and the other portion to be analyzed at another appropriately credentialed laboratory. In the case of split samples or specimens, third party payers shall pay both the department of health laboratory and the appropriately credentialed laboratory for analyzing those samples or specimens. The department of health shall waive the requirement for samples or specimens to be sent to the department of health laboratory and shall establish a written memorandum of agreement with any appropriately credentialed laboratory which can meet or exceed the most current laboratory standard of practice for tuberculosis testing, including maximum turnaround time.