Phlebotomy students can be assured of educational training excellence

Clia Waived Laboratory at Phlebotomy Career Training

Prospective phlebotomy students have a hard time to decide where they want to do their training, whether it be online or in class.  At phlebotomy career training, we have a CLIA Waived laboratory on site where students will learn point of care testing.  Point of care testing means procedures which can be done onsite with immediate results.  Such procedures include HIV testing, urine/drug screen, pregnancy testing, stool for occult blood, glucometer testing, rapid strep, raid flu, nicotine mouth swabs and much more.

In a nut shell, here are some of the benefits of being a CLIA Waived lab;

  • Employ methodologies that are so simple and accurate as to render the likelihood of erroneous results negligible.
  • Use unprocessed specimens (whole blood or oral fluid)
  • Pose no reasonable risk of harm to the patient if the test is performed incorrectly.
  • Are cleared by the FDA for home use.

The Clinical Laboratory Improved Amendments (CLIA) refer to federal laws and procedures that provide for the supervision and regulation of all clinical laboratories and establish a set of standards to be observed by facilities that perform testing and procedures for non-research purposes. Under CLIA provisions, all clinical laboratories in the United States that perform testing on human specimens – such as tissue, blood, and other body fluids – for the purpose of providing information to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, prognosis or health assessment of a disease or medical condition are required to comply with the prescribed standards. These labs are also required to secure the proper certificate to operate. Laboratories located in hospitals, medical offices and independent commercial facilities are included in the scope of the law’s coverage. All laboratory personnel are mandated to observe prescribed CLIA standards in conducting clinical examinations and procedures. The standards vary according to the given criteria such as test complexity and potential harm caused to the patient. CLIA defines three categories of test complexities: waived, moderate and high. Laboratories that perform tests of moderate to high complexities are required to be regularly enrolled in proficiency testing programs to ensure that the laboratories are properly equipped to conduct said tests. The more difficult the test category, the more rigorous are the requirements to be complied with. Failure to abide by the appropriate standards will merit the imposition of the relevant sanctions by the enforcement agencies.

The advantage of learning these tests helps the student with more employment opportunities since most phlebotomy classes do not teach this in their curriculum.  We are proud to be a CLIA Waived lab since 2011.  Patient’s can come to the school or schedule their point of care tests with our administrative assistant.