By: O.J. Bradshaw, MLS (ASCP), Laboratory Specialist OJ Bradshaw, MLS (ASCP), brings 36 years of experience to his role as a laboratory specialist in ACHC's Clinical Laboratory Accreditation Program. Prior to joining ACHC in 2024, he served as a lead medical...
Clinical Labs
Labs Target Deficiencies to Elevate Compliance
By:James E. Liggins, MBA, Program Director James E. Liggins is the Program Director for the Clinical Laboratory Accreditation program. Prior to joining ACHC in 2022, he was the CEO of LabUniversity, formerly COLA Resources Inc. (CRI). LabUniversity is now a part of...
Accreditation Theater: The Illusion of Rigor in Healthcare Accreditation
By: ACHC Posted: September 11, 2025In the post-9/11 era, the term "Security Theater" emerged to describe over-the-top yet ineffective airport security procedures designed more to make travelers feel safe than to actually increase safety. Today, healthcare...
Maintenance Protocols Drive Testing Accuracy
By: Chris Wetzel, MLS (ASCP) Laboratory Specialist Posted: August 18, 2025Testing quality and equipment accuracy go hand in hand in ACHC-accredited laboratories. Maintenance protocols are essential to reliable testing results. ACHC Laboratory Standards and best...
Ensuring Proper Storage and Temperatures for the Blood Bank
By: O.J. Bradshaw, MLS (ASCP) Laboratory Specialist Posted: July 3, 2025Your laboratory blood bank must have a defined system for storing blood and blood products, and adequate refrigerated space for its needs. The storage system includes: Areas for available,...
Ensuring Personnel Competency at All Levels
By: Chris Wetzel, MLS (ASCP) Laboratory Specialist Posted: May 22, 2025Evaluation of competency is expected for all laboratory testing personnel. This occurs at least twice in the first year that the individual is testing patient specimens and at least annually...
Implementation Deadline Approaching for Adapting to Proficiency Testing Regulations
Implementation Deadline Approaching for Adapting to Proficiency Testing RegulationsClinical laboratories produce test results that are crucial to providers’ decision-making in ensuring patients receive consistently high-quality care. How do laboratories ensure...
Heads Up, Laboratories! Dengue Virus, Novel Influenza, and More
Heads Up, Laboratories! Dengue Virus, Novel Influenza, and MorePosted: July 11, 2024 Increased Risk of Dengue Virus Brings Lab Capacity Expansion On June 25, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN)...
U.S. Agencies Monitoring Avian Influenza While Measles and Mpox Demand Attention, Too
U.S. Agencies Monitoring Avian Influenza While Measles and Mpox Demand Attention, Too Posted: May 6, 2024 Influenza A/H5 Subtyping Diagnostic Tests Being Licensed for Free Since identifying a human case of A/H5 influenza in Colorado in 2022, the U.S. Centers for...
CMS Publishes Final Rule Updating CLIA Regulations
CMS Publishes Final Rule Updating CLIA Regulations Posted: February 27, 2024The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published final rule CMS-3326-F to update the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations. This final rule,...