Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine

The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine, formerly known as the American Association for Clinical Chemistry or AACC, is a scientific and professional society serving the worldwide laboratory medicine community. Its work connects clinical laboratory scientists, researchers, physicians, diagnostic companies, government agencies, original equipment manufacturers, and other professionals involved in the development, operation, evaluation, and use of laboratory tests and instruments. The association is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and operates with an international membership base that includes approximately 8,000 people from about 110 countries. Members hold a wide range of professional degrees, certifications, and laboratory-related credentials. They work in clinical and research laboratories, manage laboratory services, develop biomarkers and diagnostic methods, conduct translational research, and support the accurate interpretation and application of test results in healthcare. ADLM's principal role is to strengthen the scientific and practical foundations of laboratory medicine. It does this through education, scientific meetings, professional publications, networking, and advocacy. Its largest event is the ADLM Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, an educational conference and technology exhibition that originated in 1949 and typically attracts around 20,000 participants. The meeting provides a forum for presenting research, discussing emerging diagnostic technologies, and exhibiting laboratory instruments, reagents, software, and services. The association also publishes and supports several laboratory-science periodicals. Clinical Chemistry is its journal of clinical laboratory science. The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, introduced in 2016, is an international peer-reviewed publication focused on practical and applied laboratory work. Clinical Laboratory News has been published since 1975 and provides news and professional information for the laboratory community. ADLM became publicly associated with a broader diagnostics and laboratory medicine identity after operating for many years under the American Association for Clinical Chemistry name. The change reflects the breadth of contemporary laboratory medicine, which extends beyond traditional clinical chemistry into molecular diagnostics, microbiology, immunology, pathology, informatics, point-of-care testing, biomarkers, and laboratory operations. The association remains a membership organization rather than a commercial diagnostic manufacturer or healthcare provider. The organization has also participated in public discussions surrounding diagnostic quality, laboratory regulation, research infrastructure, and healthcare preparedness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it represented the concerns of frontline laboratory personnel, including shortages of testing materials, research supplies, and personal protective equipment. It communicated with U.S. policymakers and the Coronavirus Task Force about supply-chain constraints and the need to coordinate resources for laboratory and healthcare workers. It also produced instructional and educational materials concerning serology, PCR-related testing, and pandemic laboratory research. A significant controversy connected with the former AACC name involved the 2016 annual scientific meeting appearance of Elizabeth Holmes, then chief executive and founder of Theranos. Holmes participated in a special session and used the opportunity to present the company's proposed miniLab after the company had faced substantial scrutiny over its testing technology and regulatory conduct. The episode attracted criticism because of the association's platform, the scientific credibility associated with its meeting, and the presence of individuals connected to Theranos on the association's scientific advisory structures. The controversy illustrates the challenges professional societies face when providing forum…

The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine developed from the professional community represented by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, commonly abbreviated AACC. Although the organization was historically identified with clinical chemistry, the scope of laboratory medicine expanded substantially over time. Modern diagnostic practice includes clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, pathology-related testing, laboratory informatics, biomarkers, point-of-care testing, and the design and management of laboratory services. The association's current identity reflects that wider field. The organization functions as a scientific society rather than as a commercial diagnostic company. Its members include laboratory professionals, researchers, physicians, diagnostic manufacturers, government representatives, original equipment manufacturers, and other specialists. Together, these groups develop, validate, operate, regulate, and interpret the tests and instruments used throughout healthcare. The association therefore occupies an intermediary position between scientific research, clinical practice, diagnostic industry, and public policy. A major part of its history is its scientific-meeting program. The annual scientific meeting and clinical laboratory exposition was first held in 1949. It became a major forum for laboratory research, professional education, and technology presentation, with attendance averaging approximately 20,000 participants. The meeting allows members to share results, examine new instruments and diagnostic platforms, and discuss issues affecting laboratory quality and patient care. Publishing has also been central to the association's professional role. Clinical Chemistry serves as a journal of clinical laboratory science. Clinical Laboratory News, published since 1975, provides news and professional information for laboratory workers. In 2016, the association added The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, an international peer-reviewed publication emphasizing the implementation and practical application of laboratory science. The former AACC identity became involved in a widely discussed controversy at its 2016 annual meeting. Elizabeth Holmes, founder and chief executive of Theranos, was invited to speak in a special session concerning the company's highly publicized blood-testing technology. Instead of limiting the appearance to a conventional scientific presentation, Holmes used the platform to unveil a product called miniLab. The appearance occurred while Theranos faced serious questions about the performance and validation of its tests and while Holmes was subject to a federal regulatory ban related to owning, operating, or directing a blood-testing service. The event drew criticism because professional scientific meetings can confer credibility on technologies and executives appearing on their programs. The connection was further scrutinized because several people associated with the Theranos scientific advisory board were also members of the association. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the association represented the operational difficulties encountered by laboratory specialists working on testing and research. Members reported problems obtaining diagnostic products, research materials, and personal protective equipment. ADLM communicated with the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force and the White House, urging attention to supply-chain problems and better organization of tools and resources required by laboratory and healthcare personnel. The association also created instructional videos and other educational material addressing serology, PCR-related work, and pandemic research. The transition from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry name to the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine expresses the organization's effort to represent the full diagnostic and laboratory ecosystem. Its contemporary activities combine scientific publishing, continuing education, professional convening, technology exhibition, policy advocacy, and support for accurate diagnostic testing. Its international membership and broad institutional participation give it a role in shaping both laboratory practice and the public understanding of diagnostic medicine.

1. 2016The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine launches

   The association introduces an international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to applied laboratory medicine.

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2. 2016Theranos miniLab presentation at the annual meeting

   Elizabeth Holmes presents Theranos's miniLab during a special session at the AACC annual meeting, creating a subsequent controversy over the platform given to the company.

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3. 1975Clinical Laboratory News begins publication

   Clinical Laboratory News starts providing news and professional information for the laboratory medicine community.

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4. 1949First annual scientific meeting

   The association's annual scientific meeting and clinical laboratory exposition begins, later becoming a major international laboratory medicine conference and technology exhibition.

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A global scientific society and professional platform for clinical laboratory science, diagnostics, and laboratory medicine, serving practitioners, researchers, healthcare organizations, government bodies, and diagnostic technology companies.

• Clinical ChemistryScientific journal

  A scientific journal associated with the organization and focused on clinical laboratory science. It supports the dissemination of research and professional knowledge relevant to laboratory testing, diagnostic methods, biomarkers, and the interpretation of laboratory information.

• The Journal of Applied Laboratory MedicinePeer-reviewed journal2016

  An international peer-reviewed publication launched by the association in 2016. It emphasizes the practical application of laboratory science, including methods, implementation, operations, and the translation of laboratory knowledge into clinical practice.

• Clinical Laboratory NewsProfessional news publication1975

  A professional publication issued since 1975 for people working in clinical laboratories and related areas. It provides news and information concerning laboratory medicine, diagnostic practice, research, and the professional community.

• ADLM Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab ExpoScientific conference and trade exhibition1949

  The association's largest annual event, combining scientific and educational programming with an exhibition of laboratory technologies, instruments, products, and services. The meeting began in 1949 and typically attracts approximately 20,000 participants.

• COVID-19 laboratory supply and preparedness advocacy

  United States

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, ADLM represented laboratory specialists facing shortages of diagnostic products, research materials, and personal protective equipment. It communicated with the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force and the White House about supply-chain barriers and the need to coordinate resources for laboratory and healthcare workers.

  Outcome. The association increased public and governmental attention to laboratory supply constraints and supplemented its advocacy with educational videos and research-focused instructional material.

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• 2016Launch of The Journal of Applied Laboratory MedicineProduct launch

  The association sought to expand its publication portfolio and provide an international outlet focused on the practical application of laboratory science.

  What changed. ADLM, then operating under the AACC name, launched The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine as a peer-reviewed publication.

  Aftermath. The journal became part of the association's continuing professional and scientific publishing program.

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• Expansion from clinical chemistry to diagnostics and laboratory medicineStrategy

  The historical AACC name emphasized one discipline within a broader field that now includes multiple laboratory specialties, diagnostic technologies, and professional roles.

  What changed. The organization adopted the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine identity to represent its wider scientific and professional remit.

  Aftermath. The association presents itself as a global laboratory medicine society serving members across disciplines and countries.

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• 2016Theranos appearance at the AACC annual meetingControversy

  Elizabeth Holmes, founder and chief executive of Theranos, appeared at the 2016 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting in a special session and used the event to present the company's miniLab. The appearance was controversial because Theranos's diagnostic claims were under intense scrutiny and Holmes had recently been barred by U.S. regulators from owning, operating, or directing a blood-testing service for two years. The episode raised concerns about the scientific credibility conferred by the meeting and about relationships between Theranos advisers and the association.

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• 2016The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine launches

  ADLM launched an international peer-reviewed journal focused on applied laboratory medicine and practical clinical laboratory work.

  Product launch
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• Association adopts the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine identity

  The organization formerly known as the American Association for Clinical Chemistry operates under the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine name, reflecting a broader scope across modern laboratory medicine and diagnostics.

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• ADLM advocates for laboratory supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic

  The association communicated with U.S. pandemic-response officials about shortages of testing and research materials, supply-chain obstacles, and personal protective equipment affecting laboratory personnel.

  RegulationOther
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1. Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
2. Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine official website