Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors (IACLD)

The Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors (IACLD), was founded by the first DCLS graduates in 1991.

Setting up and commencing a doctorate program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (DCLS) since 1986, in Iran, has created new opportunities for professional development in multiple domains of clinical laboratory including clinical centers labs, public and private laboratories, research organizations and university laboratories. After profound studies and holding seminars and various sessions, DCLS program was approved by the Medical Committee of Iran’s Cultural Revolution Supreme Council in 1986. From 1986 to 1994, about 1200 people were trained as DCLS students. The DCLS graduates revolutionized medical laboratory industry in Iran and improved the quality of laboratory services across the country.

With regard to the needs for modernization and transformation in the structure of Iranian medical laboratories in accordance with requirements and expectations of the modern world, the Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors (IACLD) was established by the first DCLS graduates in 1991. The main goal of IACLD is to improve the quality and strengthen the position of IRAN clinical laboratories as well as related human resources in the national and international arena.

DCLS degree holders as the members to IACLD act as effective common interfaces among clinicians, medical researchers and health care policy makers. Among their numerous functions, the followings are highlighted:

1. Contribution to patient care; as Laboratory Directors by establishing Clinical laboratories and performing routine and specialized diagnostic tests based on standard algorithms as well as knowledge in the fields of clinical laboratory diagnoses,

2. Education and Training; by acting as university faculty members / lecturers in medical laboratory sciences,

3. Research; by conducting basic and clinical studies as well as transferring research findings into the practice,

4. Assisting the health care policy makings; by participating in decision and policy makings and providing practical recommendations for relevant authorities.

5. Quality Improvement; by establishing one of the main organizations for Proficiency Testing in Iran.

IACLD Objectives:

The main objectives of IACLD are as follows:

• Establishing scientific, technical, research and training relation and exchange of opinions between the researchers, specialists and other experts who are somehow engaged in different branches of clinical laboratory as well as basic and clinical sciences.
• Cooperating with Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, universities and educational and research institutes in planning educational and research affairs,
• Evaluating and reviewing the educational and research programs and giving necessary suggestions,
• Declaring standard routine and specialized laboratory tests to patients and their physicians
• Encouraging the participation of DCLS graduates in clinical teams for better interpretation of tests;
• Presenting educational, scientific, research and technical services,
• Motivating and encouraging the laboratory scientists, researchers and students for the advancement of their careers,
• Preparing, developing and publishing scientific and academic publications, and holding retraining, training and research seminars at national and international levels, under the applicable laws of the country;
• Improving the real position of laboratories in the health care system;
• Improving the quality of Iran laboratory services through upgrading medical diagnostic laboratories in accordance with the progress of medical and laboratory science and technology;
• Following up and restoring professional rights of medical diagnostic laboratory staff.

IACLD Activities:

The most important activities of IACLD include:

• Holding the international congress on quality improvement in clinical laboratory services, annually,
• Holding scientific seminars, training courses and CMEs,
• Conducting proficiency tests such as the official program called IRAN External Quality Assessment Program (EQAP),
• Publishing a journal on clinical laboratory sciences in Persian, i.e. Laboratory and Diagnosis Journal,
• Assisting the health ministry to standardize laboratory tests,
• Doing joint projects with ministry of health on planning / achieving quality improvement in clinical laboratories.

      Approach

• The relation to accreditation body activities is:

  Since 2007, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education recommended that a full “quality improvement program” must be implemented to integrate Clinical Laboratories according to ISO 15189. Hence in 2016, IACLD decided to follow “quality management program” with the goal of developing and implementing an accreditation model for medical labs which is responsible for assessing quality and competence of clinical labs and from 2017, IACLD decided joining to APLAC as an associate member and in the next step it provides for mutual recognition of accreditation bodies by the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), at an international level and hence the global acceptance of reports issued by IACLD accredited conformity assessment bodies.

  IACLD intents as an accreditation body to provide an assurance of the competence, impartiality and integrity of Clinical Laboratories. IACLD accredited testing providers reduce the need for suppliers of these services to be assessed by each of their customers, and as a consequence helps to reduce barriers to trade for organizations.

  The relation to accreditation body activities is:Since 2007, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education recommended that a full “quality improvement program” must be implemented to integrate Clinical Laboratories according to ISO 15189. Hence in 2016, IACLD decided to follow “quality management program” with the goal of developing and implementing an accreditation model for medical labs which is responsible for assessing quality and competence of clinical labs and from 2017, IACLD decided joining to APLAC as an associate member and in the next step it provides for mutual recognition of accreditation bodies by the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), at an international level and hence the global acceptance of reports issued by IACLD accredited conformity assessment bodies. IACLD intents as an accreditation body to provide an assurance of the competence, impartiality and integrity of Clinical Laboratories. IACLD accredited testing providers reduce the need for suppliers of these services to be assessed by each of their customers, and as a consequence helps to reduce barriers to trade for organizations.
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• the Ministry of Health and Medical Education arranges the rules for more than 2500 medical labs and IACLD roles is recognized by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IACLD. Under this   MOU, the Common wealth Government:

   -Uses IACLD facilities to meet its testing needs, wherever possible.
   -Encourages State Governments and other instrumentalities to do likewise.
   -Commits all Commonwealth Government laboratories to obtain and maintain  IACLD accreditation, where appropriate.