What does CLIA stand for?

• A. Comprehensive Laboratory Inspection and Assessment
• B. Certified Laboratory Implementation and Assurance
• C. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
• D. Clinical Laboratory Information Administration

Answer: (C)

The main concept here is knowing the official name of the federal program that regulates clinical laboratory testing. CLIA stands for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. This title shows that the program aims to raise the quality of laboratory work by setting standards, organizing tests by complexity, and requiring quality control and proficiency testing. In practice, this means labs must follow specific regulations to ensure tests are accurate, reliable, and timely, helping protect patient safety and ensure trustworthy results. The other options don’t fit because they use different wording or refer to concepts that are not the actual regulatory name or scope of CLIA.