The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has renewed COLA’s deeming authority for another six years under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA 88). COLA is a private, non-profit laboratory accreditation organization accrediting clinical laboratories nationwide.
Six years is the maximum period an accrediting organization can be given deeming authority before its next renewal period. COLA was approved to accredit the following CLIA-regulated specialties and subspecialties: Microbiology, including Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology; Diagnostic Immunology, including Syphilis Serology and General Immunology; Chemistry, including Routine Chemistry, Urinalysis, Endocrinology, and Toxicology; Hematology; and Immunohematology, including ABO Group and Rh Group, Antibody Detection, Antibody Identification, and Compatibility Testing.
“The process for renewing our deeming authority is no small undertaking and we are very pleased with the outcome,” said Nancy Stratton, Chief Executive Officer of COLA. COLA is also ISO certified. “A number of years ago we decided to seek ISO-certification. This internationally-recognized standard, which includes a routine audit by a third-party reviewer, strengthens the consistency of our program which is so vital to deeming re-approval and customer service excellence.”
COLA accredits clinical laboratories operating in many different settings including hospitals, physician offices, rural and community clinics, student centers, health fairs, ambulatory surgery centers, health maintenance organizations, healthcare systems, federally qualified health centers, nursing facilities as well as independent laboratories.
