About UHL
Testing / Services
Education / Training
Publications
Support UHL
Contact Us
CLIA Corner

Do you need to stay current with the Federal CLIA laboratory requirements (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)? Does your laboratory have the tools to provide quality testing for its clients and patients? UHL's CLIA Corner can help. This quarterly publication covers topical news and subjects for the clinical laboratory. UHL provides the personnel to oversee the CLIA program for the State of Iowa. The overall CLIA program is administrated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For additional information about the CLIA program, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/clia.

Fourth Quarter 2009

In This Issue...

  • Clarification: CLIA requirements for immunohematology compatibility testing using the gel test system.
  • Questions and Answers:
    • PT enrollment requirements for MRSA screening
    • CLIA requirements for synovial fluid examination for crystals
    • Record retention using a laboratory information system (LIS)
    • Multiple sites under one CLIA certificate exceptions

Third Quarter 2009

In This Issue...

  • Requirements to perform streamlined quality control for microbial identification systems

Second Quarter 2009

In This Issue...

  • Process for applying for an initial CLIA certificate, including specifics for certificates of waiver, provider-performed microscopy procedures (PPMP), compliance and accreditation.
  • Billing and renewal process for each type of certificate.

First Quarter 2009

In This Issue...

  • Notification Requirements Update
  • Policy Clarification for Laboratories Performing Only PPM Procedures
  • New Email Addresses for Kristi and Nancy

Fourth Quarter 2008

In This Issue...

  • Verifying Performance Specifications

Third Quarter 2008

In This Issue...

  • Top Ten Deficiencies Cited by the Iowa CLIA Surveyors

Second Quarter 2008

In This Issue...

  • Calibration vs. Calibration Verification

First Quarter 2008

In This Issue...

  • Mandatory Training Equals Mandatory Citations
  • Other News and Clarifications

Fourth Quarter 2007

Answers to Questions on the Following Topics

  • MLT qualifications as general supervisor
  • Validation of a new test kit
  • Affirm VP test system QC
  • Fungal/yeast culture PT requirements

Third Quarter 2007

Prepare your laboratory for its next inspection.

  • Pre-survey checklist
  • During the survey checklist
  • Post-survey checklist

Second Quarter 2007

Celebrate National Laboratory Week with laboratory puzzles.

  • Jumble
  • Word Search
  • Crossword

First Quarter 2007

Frequently Asked Questions.

  • Verification of performance standards for a new influenza test system.
  • Frequency of checking the temperature alarm system of blood bank refrigerators/freezers.
  • Quality control requirements for D-Dimer testing.

Fourth Quarter 2006

Laboratory Procedures and Procedure Manuals

  • CLIA requirements for procedures and procedure manuals.
  • Laboratory director and personnel responsibilities in regards to procedures.
  • Record retention requirements for procedures.

Third Quarter 2006

Prothrombin Time & INR Testing

  • Specimen collection and processing
  • Establishing a new normal patient mean
  • Programming the correct ISI into analyzer
  • Comparison INR studies with old and new reagent lot numbers
  • Checking automated INR calculation manually
  • Example worksteet
  • Miscellaneous information: policies and procedures, quality control, calibration and calibration verification and test requests/standing orders.

Second Quarter 2006

Celebrate National Laboratory Week

  • CLIA Corner Challenge - Trivia Quiz
CLIA Records Retention Requirements

First Quarter 2006

Common Deficiencies

  • Proficiency Testing
  • Personnel
  • Micro Quality Control
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Waived Testing
  • HEW Card Replacement
Proficiency Testing Example Forms



Web Master | Site Map

Copyright (c) 2009 University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory