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The 2025 Laboratory Enrichment Forum is being held at the Gila River Resort in Chandler, Arizona on May 6-8, 2025. The Forum offers interactive sessions covering topics of Pathology, Laboratory Leadership, Quality and Emerging Trends. The sessions will provide practical tools to use in your laboratory, and continuing education credits are available for physicians and laboratorians. Advance registration is now open, register today.
Popular Courses
Laboratory Director Course
All Access – Waived Testing Toolkit
Administrative Access – Waived Testing Toolkit
Waived Testing – Best Practices for Quality Results
Implementing a Meaningful IQCP
Virtual Lecture Series
Overview of Moderate Complexity Regulatory Requirements
One of America’s Leading Laboratory Accreditors
As a leading physician-directed accrediting organization and the first to obtain federal approval under CLIA, we accredit laboratories of all types, sizes and complexities. For over thirty years, we have refined our unique educationally-focused accreditation experience. Year over year customers report 98% satisfaction.  Accreditation is our core business.  Promoting health and safety is our mission. Guiding professionals to achieve their vision for laboratory excellence is our passion.Â
Future Events
COLA’s Laboratory Enrichment Forum – May 6-8, 2026
COLA’s Laboratory Enrichment Forum – May 4-6, 2027
COLA Accreditation
COLA continues to be a CMS-approved laboratory accreditation organization (AO). COLA’s latest reapproval from CMS, for the maximum six-year period, was announced in the Federal Register on March 6, 2024. Â
The Joint Commission (TJC) has discontinued the cooperative agreement with COLA for laboratory accreditation. TJC is the only hospital accreditor that restricts options for laboratory accreditation. TJC-accredited hospitals who use COLA for their laboratory accreditation do have other choices, however, for hospital accreditation.  Â
There are many synergies between COLA and both DNV and CIHQ (Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality). These two CMS approved hospital accreditation organizations share many of the COLA values, including a standardized and educational approach to assisting you with compliance challenges. And both welcome COLA laboratory accreditation in their accredited hospitals.  Â
A list of all CMS-approved hospital accreditors can be found at Web List AO Contact List (cms.gov).Â
Stay Informed!
Stay informed about the latest regulatory announcements, upcoming events, trending accreditation news and other laboratory topics.
One of America’s Leading Laboratory Accreditors
As a leading physician-directed accrediting organization and the first to obtain federal approval under CLIA, we accredit laboratories of all types, sizes and complexities. For over thirty years, we have refined our unique educationally-focused accreditation experience. Year over year customers report 98% satisfaction.  Accreditation is our core business.  Promoting health and safety is our mission. Guiding professionals to achieve their vision for laboratory excellence is our passion.Â
Laboratory Science in the News
Laboratories play a crucial role in monitoring and testing for avian flu to ensure preparedness. This NPR article stresses the importance of staying vigilant about avian flu outbreaks.
COLA Accreditation
COLA continues to be a CMS-approved laboratory accreditation organization (AO). COLA’s latest reapproval from CMS, for the maximum six-year period, was announced in the Federal Register on March 6, 2024. Â
The Joint Commission (TJC) has discontinued the cooperative agreement with COLA for laboratory accreditation. TJC is the only hospital accreditor that restricts options for laboratory accreditation. TJC-accredited hospitals who use COLA for their laboratory accreditation do have other choices, however, for hospital accreditation.  Â
There are many synergies between COLA and both DNV and CIHQ (Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality). These two CMS approved hospital accreditation organizations share many of the COLA values, including a standardized and educational approach to assisting you with compliance challenges. And both welcome COLA laboratory accreditation in their accredited hospitals.  Â
A list of l all CMS-approved hospital accreditors can be found at Web List AO Contact List (cms.gov). Â
Notice
We are aware that you may have received an email on Friday, June 7, purporting to be from a COLA employee. If you did, please disregard and delete it. Thank you.Â
Stay Informed!
Stay informed about the latest regulatory announcements, upcoming events, trending accreditation news and other laboratory topics.
The 2025 Laboratory Enrichment Forum
The 2025 Laboratory Enrichment Forum is being held at the Gila River Resort in Chandler, Arizona on May 6-8, 2025. The Forum offers interactive sessions covering topics of Pathology, Laboratory Leadership, Quality and Emerging Trends. The sessions will provide practical tools to use in your laboratory, and continuing education credits are available for physicians and laboratorians. Advance registration is now open, register today.
Popular Courses
Laboratory Director Course
All Access – Waived Testing Toolkit
Administrative Access – Waived Testing Toolkit
Waived Testing – Best Practices for Quality Results
Implementing a Meaningful IQCP
Virtual Lecture Series
Featured News & Events
The 2025 C.A.S.C.A.D.E. one-day workshop is designed to help new or experienced leaders recharge their vision and inspire them to make a positive impact on the clinical laboratory industry through leadership.
Welcome back to our ongoing series on the use of primary HPV testing in cervical cancer screening. In this installment, we aim to shed light on the issues of false negatives and false positives that can occur with primary HPV testing. False Negative HPV Results The...
The global effort to eradicate Guinea worm disease, or dracunculiasis, is nearing a historic milestone, thanks to decades of persistent, community-driven initiatives that have dramatically reduced human cases. However, recent challenges, particularly the rise of...
COLA, a national laboratory accreditation organization committed to promoting healthcare...
On May 7, 2024, representatives from various organizations across the nation met in...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted COLA, a leading...
The COLA Laboratory Enrichment Forum offers a dynamic platform for professionals...
Featured News & Events
The 2025 C.A.S.C.A.D.E. one-day workshop is designed to help new or experienced leaders recharge their vision and inspire them to make a positive impact on the clinical laboratory industry through leadership.
Welcome back to our ongoing series on the use of primary HPV testing in cervical cancer screening. In this installment, we aim to shed light on the issues of false negatives and false positives that can occur with primary HPV testing. False Negative HPV Results The...
The global effort to eradicate Guinea worm disease, or dracunculiasis, is nearing a historic milestone, thanks to decades of persistent, community-driven initiatives that have dramatically reduced human cases. However, recent challenges, particularly the rise of...
COLA, a national laboratory accreditation organization committed to promoting healthcare...
On May 7, 2024, representatives from various organizations across the nation met in...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted COLA, a leading...
The COLA Laboratory Enrichment Forum offers a dynamic platform for professionals...