Final answer:
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) were passed by Congress in 1988 to ensure accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of testing in laboratories.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) were passed by Congress in 1988 to ensure accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of testing in laboratories.
This legislation was motivated by concerns about the quality of laboratory testing and the potential harm caused by inaccurate or unreliable results.
CLIA established federal quality standards for laboratory testing, including requirements for personnel qualifications, equipment, quality control, and proficiency testing.