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Certification Boards for Laboratory Directors of High Complexity Testing

Guidance for certification board approved by HHS.

Final

Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: January 28, 2020

The qualification for a laboratory director of high complexity testing at 42 CFR 493.1443(b)(3)(i) is that the laboratory director must hold an earned doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution and be certified and continue to be certified by a board approved by HHS.  The current approved boards are the following:

  1. ABB – American Board of Bioanalysis 
  2. ABB public health microbiology certification
  3. ABCC – American Board of Clinical Chemistry
  4. ABFT – American Board of Forensic Toxicology (limited to individuals with a doctoral degree with Fellow status)* 
  5. ABMGG – American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (formerly known as American Board of  Medical Genetics (ABMG))
  6. ABMLI – American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology (no longer accepting new exam applicants)
  7. ABMM – American Board of Medical Microbiology
  8. ACHI -American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (formerly known as American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI))
  9. NRCC – National Registry of Certified Chemists (limited to individuals with a doctoral degree) *
  10. DMLI – Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology (ASCP Board of Certification)

 * These boards certify non-doctoral individuals also.

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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.