Book:The Comprehensive Guide to Physician Office Laboratory Setup and Operation/Education, staffing, accreditation, and other considerations/Certification and accreditation

4.3 Certification and accreditation

Like other types of laboratories, certification and accreditation in clinical labs is important to ensuring quality outcomes for both patients and the lab. The following subsection details certification and accreditation options for both individuals and laboratories themselves. These programs not only allows an individual or lab to demonstrate their expertise, but they also may be required by various entities.

4.3.1 Individual certification and accreditation programs

• American Association of Bioanalysts: The AAB Board of Registry (ABOR) offers five different certifications, including medical technologist (MT) and medical laboratory technician (MLT).
• American Board of Bioanalysts: ABB offers several laboratory director certifications.
• American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics: The ACHI provides certifications for histocompatability technologists and directors.
• American Medical Technologists: The AMT offers several laboratory-related certifications, including medical technologist (MT) and medical laboratory technician (MLT).
• American Society for Clinical Pathology: The ASCP offers four levels of certification, with numerous subcategories in all but the Diplomate Certification. The four main levels are Technician, Technologist, Specialist, and Diplomate.
• National Commission of Certifying Agencies: The NCCT offers several certifications, including medical assistant (NCMA) and phlebotomy technician (NCPT).
• National Healthcareer Association: The NHA offers several certifications, including clinical medical assistant (CCMA) and phlebotomy technician (CPT).
• National Phlebotomy Association: The NPA offers a certification for phlebotomists.

4.3.2 Laboratory accreditation programs

• A2LA: "Accredits clinical laboratories to five comprehensive accreditation program"
• Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies: AABB has an accreditation program for blood and biobanking facilities.
• COLA: Formerly the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation; a non-profit accreditor of medical laboratories
• College of American Pathologists: CAP offers a laboratory accreditation program that "accredits laboratories performing testing on specimens from human beings or animals, using methodologies and clinical application within the expertise of the program."
• The Joint Commission: Provides a variety of accreditation and certification programs for healthcare entities, including laboratories
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences: The NAACLS accredits and approved educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences.