488.500 - Admissibility of results of blood test in criminal action; immunity from liability for person administering blood test in certain circumstances.

488.500  Admissibility of results of blood test in criminal action; immunity from liability for person administering blood test in certain circumstances.

      1.  The results of any blood test administered under the provisions of NRS 488.460 or 488.490 are not admissible in any criminal action arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by a person who was operating or in actual physical control of a vessel under power or sail while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance or who was engaging in any other conduct prohibited by NRS 488.410, 488.420 or 488.425 unless:

      (a) The blood tested was withdrawn by a person, other than an arresting officer, who:

             (1) Is a physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, emergency medical technician or a phlebotomist, technician, technologist or assistant employed in a medical laboratory; or

             (2) Has special knowledge, skill, experience, training and education in withdrawing blood in a medically acceptable manner, including, without limitation, a person qualified as an expert on that subject in a court of competent jurisdiction or a person who has completed a course of instruction described in subsection 2 of NRS 652.127; and

      (b) The test was performed on whole blood, except if the sample was clotted when it was received by the laboratory, the test may be performed on blood serum or plasma.

      2.  The limitation contained in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 does not apply to the taking of a chemical test of the urine, breath or other bodily substance.

      3.  No person listed in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 incurs any civil or criminal liability as a result of the administering of a blood test when requested by a peace officer or the person to be tested to administer the test.

      (Added to NRS by 1987, 628; A 1999, 3435; 2005, 160, 2043)