Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) is a not-for-profit organization that develops and promotes voluntary consensus standards and guidelines for the health care and medical testing community. CLSI's mission is to improve the quality of medical testing and enhance patient care by providing globally applicable standards and guidelines.

Conference on a National Understanding for the Development of Reference Methods and Materials for Clinical Chemistry Brochure

History

CLSI was founded in 1968 as the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). The organization was established to address the need for standardization in clinical laboratory testing. In 2005, NCCLS changed its name to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute to better reflect its global reach and expanded scope.

Mission and Vision

CLSI's mission is to develop clinical and laboratory practices and promote their use worldwide. The organization envisions a world where everyone has access to safe, effective, and efficient laboratory testing.

Standards and Guidelines

CLSI develops a wide range of standards and guidelines that cover various aspects of laboratory testing, including:

• Quality Management Systems: Guidelines for implementing quality management systems in laboratories to ensure accurate and reliable test results.
• Method Evaluation: Standards for evaluating the performance of laboratory methods and instruments.
• Microbiology: Guidelines for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and other microbiological procedures.
• Hematology: Standards for blood cell analysis and other hematological tests.
• Clinical Chemistry: Guidelines for the analysis of chemical components in blood and other body fluids.

Consensus Process

CLSI uses a consensus process to develop its standards and guidelines. This process involves:

1. Proposal: A new standard or guideline is proposed by a member or committee. 2. Drafting: A draft document is prepared by a working group of experts. 3. Review: The draft is reviewed by a broader group of stakeholders, including laboratory professionals, industry representatives, and regulatory bodies. 4. Voting: The draft is voted on by CLSI members. 5. Publication: Once approved, the standard or guideline is published and made available to the public.

Global Impact

CLSI's standards and guidelines are used by laboratories around the world to improve the quality of testing and patient care. The organization collaborates with international partners to promote the adoption of its standards globally.

Education and Training

In addition to developing standards, CLSI offers educational programs and training to help laboratories implement its guidelines. These programs include workshops, webinars, and online courses.

Related Pages

• Laboratory quality control
• Clinical chemistry
• Microbiology
• Hematology