Satisfying regulatory and accreditation requirements for quality control

Sharon S Ehrmeyer1

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 6175, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA. ehrmeyer@wisc.edu

Summary

This article explains how clinical laboratories in the US meet CLIA requirements. CLIA regulations apply to all labs that test human samples for medical purposes. These rules focus on three stages of testing: before, during, and after the test. Many labs follow standards set by professional organizations like The Joint Commission or COLA. These groups are approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The article shows how these organizations help labs comply with CLIA rules. It suggests that accreditation simplifies the process of following federal regulations. The authors conclude that accreditation is a practical solution for ensuring quality control in diagnostic testing.

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