Lab Tests Online is the product of a unique collaboration among professional societies representing the clinical laboratory community. Organized by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), each participant in this collaboration has supported the development of content on the site through countless voluntary hours writing, editing, and reviewing the material. AACC produced the site as part of its ongoing commitment to educating the public about laboratory testing.

In addition, international partners who are responsible for localizing Lab Tests Online in countries around the world have also provided valuable feedback and, in some cases, original content, that has helped strengthen the information on the site.

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The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) is the principal association of professional laboratory scientists, including MDs and PhDs. Our members develop and perform tests conducted in hospital laboratories, clinics, medical centers and other health care settings. The AACC provides national and worldwide leadership in advancing the practice and profession of clinical laboratory medicine and its role in improving health care. AACC's mission includes educating the public about the value of laboratory testing with the overall goal of improving the public's health.

ACLA is a not-for-profit organization created in 1971 to represent the nation's leading national, regional and local independent clinical laboratories. It provides for its members the benefits of representation with federal and state governments, private health plans, education, information, and research. It's primary purpose is to advocate laws and regulations that recognize the essential role laboratory services play in delivering cost-effective health care; encourage the highest standards of quality, service, and ethical conduct among its members; and promote public awareness about the value of laboratory services in preventing illness, diagnosing disease, and monitoring medical treatment.

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) is the oldest and largest non-registry professional society, representing 12,000 non-physician clinical laboratory practitioners. The society's members include clinical laboratory directors, managers, supervisors, hematologists, immunologists, educators, clinical chemists, microbiologists, phlebotomists and other professionals. The mission of ASCLS is support its members in their quest to provide quality services for all consumers. The members ascribe to a code of ethics and are committed to safeguarding the dignity and privacy of patients and providing accurate information to other health care professionals about laboratory services. The Society promotes the highest standards of practice and professional competence through conferences, publications and education programs.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, comprising 42,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and the profession of microbiology for the common good by disseminating information and stimulating research and education. Microbiologists study microorganisms to understand basic biological and disease processes. Clinical/medical microbiology is essential to the diagnosis, treatment, and control of infectious diseases and the ability of medicine to improve health and quality of life.

CLMA is an international professional association of healthcare managers who are responsible for the operations of laboratories and clinical services provided by hospitals and other healthcare organizations. CLMA’s mission is to enhance managerial and leadership skills. It’s annual conference offers members high-quality continuing education programs and, through its vendor exhibition, exposes members to new products and services. CLMA’s journal, Clinical Leadership & Management Review, offers practical solutions to today's management challenges. Its newsletter, Vantage Point, contains highlights of the latest clinical service/laboratory trends. And a bi-weekly Email Alert provides a summary of industry headline news. These publications and other valued member benefits can be accessed through CLMA’s website at www.clma.org.

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. The Society?s mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. Founded in 1958, the society has played an active role in the development of hematology as a discipline through bringing together clinicians and scientists and establishing standards for certification.

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was established to "Promote Clinical Practice, Basic Research, and Education in Molecular Pathology." AMP's mission is to represent and unify practitioners of Molecular Pathology with emphasis on the following common goals: to increase public awareness of molecular technology and its utility; to provide a forum for communication among members; to develop and maintain liaisons with other organizations and agencies concerned with Molecular Pathology; to work together to ensure quality and competence in the profession; to educate members, and provide guidelines for educating trainees in this discipline; and to identify current and emerging issues in the regulatory or credentialing arenas.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is a non-profit medical specialty society representing 151,000 board certified pathologists, other physicians, clinical scientists (PhDs), medical technologists and technicians. It is the world's largest organization representing pathology and laboratory medicine. As the leading provider of continuing education for pathologists and medical laboratory personnel, the ASCP enhances the quality of the profession through comprehensive educational programs and materials. The primary purpose of the ASCP is to improve public health by advancing the science and practice of pathology and laboratory medicine.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), formerly NCCLS, is committed to promoting quality health care through consensus standards, guidelines, and best practices. CLSI is dedicated to service in the area of health care testing and related health care services, and values this opportunity to support the much-needed effort for consumer education in the area of medical laboratory testing.

The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely recognized as the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high quality and cost-effective patient care.

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is the national certifying body and professional society for medical laboratory professionals, with over 13,000 members in Canada and around the world. Members include medical laboratory technologists, medical laboratory assistants, educators and scientists, who work in public and private laboratories. CSMLS strives to achieve its mission, "working to advance medical laboratory science," by promoting national standards of excellence. It supports members by offering continuing education, professional recognition programs, grants and scholarships. CSMLS is an active participant in the health care planning process in Canada, working with federal and provincial governments on issues relating to medical laboratory science.

The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) is a national scientific and professional society representing clinical biochemists across Canada. It provides leadership in the practice of clinical biochemistry and clinical laboratory medicine through service, education and research. The Society establishes standards for diagnostic services and serves as a resource to government, industry, and health care associations, in the interest of the general public.

The Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS) is an international professional society dedicated to promoting high standards in the science and application of ligand assay technology (immunoassays, receptor binding assays, molecular diagnostics assays) by encouraging research, educating practitioners, and fostering communication and cooperation among individuals in laboratories, in medicine, in academia and in industry.

The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) was founded in 1976 and is the official Academy of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). Its membership consists of doctorate level scientists who are involved in developing the scholarship and practice of laboratory medicine. The Academy is a leading advocate for scholarship through scientific research and it conducts educational programs to promote scientific discovery and application. NACB develops and publishes laboratory medicine practice guidelines to enhance medical diagnosis and therapy.

Whether freestanding or hospital-based, physician-office based or a multi-site system, Joint Commission Laboratory accreditation helps laboratories streamline operations and achieve a higher level of integration. Joint Commission accreditation helps labs learn how to improve quality, reduce costs, demonstrate accountability, and increase options for participation in managed care and other contractual arrangements. Joint Commission accreditation is recognized as the Gold Standard for Quality in Health Care.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is a national non-profit dedicated to working with its members to strengthen public health laboratories. By promoting effective programs and public policy, APHL strives to provide public health laboratories with the resources and infrastructure needed to protect the health of US residents and to prevent and control disease globally.

Established in 1947, AABB is an international, not-for-profit association dedicated to the advancement of science and the practice of transfusion medicine and related biological therapies. The association is committed to improving health by developing and delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs and services that optimize patient and donor care and safety. AABB membership consists of approximately 1,800 institutions and 8,000 individuals, including physicians, scientists, administrators, medical technologists, nurses, researchers, blood donor recruiters and public relations personnel. Members are located in all 50 states and 80 countries.

The American Association of Bioanalysts is a national professional association whose members are clinical laboratory directors, owners, supervisors, managers, medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, physician office laboratory technicians and phlebotomists. AAB also has three specialized membership sections for laboratory professionals: the College of Reproductive Biology (CRB), the Environmental Biology and Public Health Section (EBPH) and the National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA). AAB is committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical laboratory services by enhancing the professional skills of each of its members; promoting more efficient and productive operations; offering external quality control programs; collaborating with other professional associations and government agencies; promoting safe laboratory practices; and educating legislators, regulators, and the general public about clinical laboratory tests and procedures.

The American Academy of Family Physician’s Proficiency Testing (AAFP-PT) for Office Laboratories is a simple, flexible, and comprehensive program from a name you can trust. Approved by CMS and COLA, AAFP-PT is designed to assist office laboratories in meeting CLIA, COLA, and state regulatory requirements, to assess performance, and gain accurate patient lab results. Participation in AAFP-PT provides continuing medical education (CME) opportunities for physicians and their laboratory staff.

The Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB) was founded in 1953, and is one of the oldest such Associations in the world. Based in the United Kingdom, it is a professional body dedicated to the practice and promotion of clinical science. The Association has medical and non-medical members in all major UK healthcare laboratories, in many university departments and in several commercial companies. The links with its Corporate Members leads to a fruitful relationship with the clinical diagnostics industry. ACB liaises with and is consulted by many national and international organizations on issues relating to clinical biochemistry, and is the publisher of Lab Tests Online-UK.

The Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology was founded in 1976 as the Sociedad Española de Química Clínica (SEQC), or the Spanish Society of Clinical Chemistry. Its principal mission is to bring together all scientists who are interested in the field of Clinical Biochemistry, to promote the dissemination of scientific and technical publications, to organize both national and international meetings and educational programs, and to cooperate with other scientific societies.

German Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (description to come)

The Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics was founded in 1964 with its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Its mission is to disseminate new achievements and new technologies in laboratory medicine; to provide members and the healthcare community with education relevant to laboratory medicine, directed at management and clinical issues on such topics as quality management, utilization and cost-effectiveness of laboratory measurements; and finally, to contribute in organization, planning and delivery of healthcare in Poland. There are about 3,500 members in the Society. Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics is a full member of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (description to come)

Hungarian Association of Laboratory Diagnostics (description to come)

 

 

The Italian Society of  Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC) is the largest Italian laboratory society, with approximately 3500 members. It was founded in 1968 and accepts applications by laboratory physicians, laboratory scientists and medical technologists. The Society is leaded by a president and by a board that includes the heads of the following  divisions:

• scientific
• international
• regional sections
• education and communication

Every year, the Society organizes a national congress that is attended by 1200-1500 delegates. It regularly publishes a journal (BC) and an on-line news letter.