National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences

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National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is a US based educational accreditation organization that accredits clinical laboratory educational programs. NAACLS is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Contents

NAACLS has criticized the rise of non-accredited, on-the-job training (OJT) programs as undermining the laboratory profession. [1]

History

It was founded in 1973, after the United States Department of Education pressured the American Society for Clinical Pathology(ASCP) to disband their BOS following monopolization concerns. [2] [3] At the time of its founding, there were seven categories of laboratory personnel: Clinical Laboratory Assistant (CLA), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Technologist (MT), Cytotechnologist (CT), and Histotechnologist (HT). [3]


In 2023, there was an effort to standardize program nomenclature which did not pass. [4]

Programs

NameAbbr.Notes
Cytogentic Technologist CT
Diagnostic Molecular Scientist DMS
Histotechnician HT
Histotechnologist HTL
Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA
Medical Laboratory Microbiologist MLM
Medical Laboratory Scientist MLSFormerly Medical Technology (MT), then Clinical Laboratory Science

(CLS)

Medical Laboratory Technician MLT
Pathologists' Assistant PATH A
Phlebotomy PHLEB
Public Health MicrobiologistPHM
Doctorate In Clinical LaboratoryDCLS
Biomedical Scientist BMSIn progress

Decreases in laboratory reimbursement have led to a decline in the number of NAACLS accredited MLS programs from ~700 in 1975 to ~240 programs in 2002, where it has held since. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Flaws, Maribeth (15 June 2023). "President's Report – Educational Programs: Threats and Opportunities". The NAACLS News.
  2. Turgeon, Mary Louise (14 April 2014). Linne & Ringsrud's Clinical Laboratory Science - E-Book: The Basics and Routine Techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 5. ISBN   978-0-323-29280-1.
  3. 1 2 Miller, Herb (14 February 2023). "NAACLS's 50th Birthday- Tempus Fugit". The NAACLS News. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  4. "Proposed Nomenclature Standard". The NAACLS News. 19 October 2023.

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