Which organization is a non-governmental body that certifies laboratory personnel and began its activities in 1928?

• A. ASCP Board of Certification (BOC)
• B. American College of Surgeons
• C. ABOR
• D. AMT

Answer: (A)

Credentialing of laboratory personnel by professional, non-governmental organizations has a long history, and one program began certifying lab staff as early as 1928. The ASCP Board of Certification is the certification arm of the American Society for Clinical Pathology and operates as a non-governmental credentialing body that specifically certifies clinical laboratory personnel, signaling that a person has met standardized competencies. Its origin in 1928 highlights its longstanding role in defining lab qualifications. Other organizations listed serve different purposes or started certification later: the American College of Surgeons is a surgical specialty society rather than a laboratory-certification body; ABOR is a different board not primarily responsible for clinical laboratory certification; and AMT certifies laboratory personnel as well, but its certification program did not originate in 1928 in the same context.