Commission on Office Lab

Founded in 1988, COLA is a physician-directed organization that promotes excellence in laboratory medicine and patient care through various voluntary education, consulting and accreditation programs. The organization offers services that assist clinical laboratories to meet regulatory requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). COLA provides accreditations to physician offices, community hospitals, mobile clinics, and veterans administration and the Department of Defense laboratories. Its accreditation program is certified by The Joint Commission. The organization is licensed to accredit laboratories that specialize in areas, such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology and immunology. COLA also provides manuals and guides, as well as online learning opportunities. It serves clients in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Bermuda and the Caribbean.