The Nation - News from Sept. 14, 1988

The House approved legislation that would for the first time require all medical laboratories--including nearly 100,000 such labs in doctors’ offices nationwide--to be federally licensed. Such laboratories perform up to 6 billion tests a year, and some have been criticized for rushed procedures that can lead to mistakes. Under the bill, passed on a voice vote, all medical labs would have to meet quality control, personnel and equipment standards and would be subject to penalties for violations. The measure goes to the Senate for further action.