COLA (Formerly the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation) Voluntary Withdrawal From the Specialty of Pathology

In a letter dated June 15, 2010, COLA provided official notice of its intent to voluntarily withdraw from accreditation in the specialty of Pathology. This withdrawal was effective June 30, 2010. All laboratories accredited by COLA in the specialty of Pathology (to include Histopathology, Oral Pathology or Cytology) will have 60 days from the date of this Federal Register notice to seek either CLIA inspection by the State Agency where the laboratory is located or accreditation with another accrediting organization that is currently CMS-approved for the specialty of Pathology.

This notice only addresses COLA’s accreditation for the specialty of Pathology. COLA’s accreditation status in the other specialties is not affected by this notice.