CMS approves COLA for virtual laboratory surveys

COLA continues to expand its capabilities to support laboratories during COVID-19, and recently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved COLA’s virtual survey process. This process was submitted in response to the current pandemic and its effect on the ability to perform surveys within the timeframe required by CMS. “Currently, we anticipate…

Proficiency Testing COLA Primer

Proficiency Testing (PT) is an important aspect of a laboratory’s overall assessment of quality. PT serves as an external check to verify the accuracy of a laboratory’s test results by providing an unknown specimen for analysis by the laboratory. This resource provides laboratories with requirements, processes, and procedures to achieve quality testing and meet CLIA…

Quality Assessment COLA Primer

In this resource you will learn how to develop and implement an effective Quality Assessment Plan which:

  • Defines roles and responsibilities
  • Identifies problems that might negatively affects patient care
  • Meets standards of performance, and enables laboratory managers to immediately address noted deficiencies
  • Creates a culture of quality in the laboratory

COLA completes key assessment for ISO certification

COLA, a nationally recognized private, non-profit laboratory accreditation organization and the only laboratory accreditation provider that operates its accreditation program in accordance with a quality management system certified to ISO 9001, has completed a key assessment in its ongoing endeavor in seeking the highest level of quality. COLA initially received its ISO certification in April…

CMS releases final Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule

COLA Receives Deeming Authority for Another Six Years

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…

medical laboratory scholarships

COLA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEN LABORATORY SCIENCE STUDENTS : Latest COLAcares Scholarship Awards Total $5,000

One solution to the problem of the increasing number of laboratory job vacancies in the U.S. is to provide financial support to aspiring laboratorians in Medical Laboratory Science or Technology programs. That is why COLA, a national leader in lab testing accreditation and an advocate for quality in laboratory medicine and patient care, has medical laboratory…