Laboratories accredited by COLA Inc. not only meet federal CLIA and state regulatory requirements but also benefit from COLA Inc.’s educational approach to accreditation.
How COLA Inc.’s Accreditation Process Works

Each step in the accreditation process is an opportunity to gather the information you need to improve quality in your laboratory practice. Along the way, we provide tools that will help you document and maintain compliance with COLA Inc. requirements.
STEP 1 - ENROLLMENT
Key staff members will be enrolled in COLAcentral, COLA Inc.’s on-line customer portal, which will be used to communicate with COLA Inc. and monitor your lab’s accreditation status. COLAcentral includes many helpful tools to assist you with meeting COLA Inc. requirements.
STEP 2 - SELF-ASSESSMENT
Laboratories can then make the improvements needed in preparation for the on-site survey.
STEP 3 - ON-SITE SURVEY
STEP 4 - POST-SURVEY & CORRECTIVE ACTION
If non-compliant criteria are identified:
COLA Inc. provides educational materials and technical, hands-on consultation, support and advice to the lab at no cost. Labs then develop and implement a corrective plan, providing COLA Inc. with appropriate documentation.
STEP 5 - ACCREDITATION
(valid for two years).
COLA Inc. follows lab performance on a continuing basis, including monitoring proficiency testing.
Laboratory can use COLAcentral to help them stay in daily (rather than biennial) compliance with CLIA and COLA Inc. quality requirements and all appropriate state licensure standards.
COLA Inc.’s Technical Advisors help laboratories work to achieve a culture of quality throughout the two-year survey cycle.