Built by Experts. Backed by Compliance. Designed for You.
Enhance your laboratory's performance and compliance with free, self-paced CLIA training at Laboratory Director University (LDU).
LDU Resources
Ready? Set? Test! Patient Testing Is Important. Get the Right Results.
Learn how to safely and accurately perform patient testing waived under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988.
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Who Are the Experts?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality (DCLIQ) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) to develop this eLearning curriculum. Laboratory Director University’s CLIA-specific training courses are offered through Laboratory Director University, which focuses on laboratory directors’ qualifications and responsibilities.
Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Division of Laboratory Systems
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Meet the Experts
Laboratory Director University and its learners benefit from the knowledge and guidance of CLIA subject matter experts who help ensure LDU's training content reflects the highest standards in laboratory director qualifications and responsibilities and supports CLIA compliance and excellence in laboratory leadership.
Cheryl Dobbe, MLT/MLS (ASCP)
Technical Advisor
Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Karen Sutterer, MLS (ASCP)
Technical Advisor
Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Heather Stang, MS, MLS
Director, Office of Laboratory Quality (Acting); Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories
Division of Laboratory Systems, Office of Laboratory Systems and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cheryl Dobbe, MLT/MLS (ASCP)
Technical Advisor
Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Cheryl Dobbe is a technical advisor in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has more than 30 years of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist and has been part of the CLIA program since 2012. Cheryl is a dedicated member of the development team for Laboratory Director University.
Karen Sutterer, MLS (ASCP)
Technical Advisor
Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Karen Sutterer is a technical advisor in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has more than 30 years of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist and has been part of the CLIA program since 2015. Karen is a dedicated member of the development team for Laboratory Director University.
Heather Stang, MS, MLS
Director, Office of Laboratory Quality (Acting); Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories
Division of Laboratory Systems, Office of Laboratory Systems and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Heather Stang, MS, MLS, is Acting Director of the Office of Laboratory Quality and serves as the Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories in the Division of Laboratory Systems in the Office of Laboratory Systems and Response at CDC. She joined CDC in 2006 and progressed through roles supporting CLIA and laboratory practice standards. Heather collaborates with CMS to develop regulatory standards and is a dedicated leader in the development of Laboratory Director University.
Built by Experts. Backed by Compliance. Designed for You.
Is LDU Right for You?
If you're a laboratory director or want to become a laboratory director who manages overall operations and administration in CLIA-certified laboratories, LDU is your one-stop resource for free, self-paced, scenario-based learning. If you are a CLIA surveyor, CLIA-designated personnel, or other laboratory professional (e.g., OneLabTM member) interested in learning more about CLIA regulations, LDU is here for you, too!
Laboratory Directors
Laboratory directors are responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory, including the employment of competent qualified personnel.
OneLab™ members
OneLab members are primarily laboratory professionals and testing personnel, including those at drive-through sites, workplaces, schools, and other healthcare facilities.
Laboratory personnel
Laboratory personnel include those responsible for performing essential tasks such as performing testing, collecting and processing specimen, and reporting test results within a laboratory setting.
LDU Features
Explore LDU’s powerful learning tools and supplemental resources designed to help laboratory directors and other laboratory professionals succeed in complex regulatory compliance environments.
High-quality, focused training
Designed by subject matter experts to address the real-world responsibilities and regulatory obligations of laboratory directors.
Self-paced learning
Move through modules on your own schedule with full access to recorded content, interactive materials, and supplemental resources.
Scalability, to expand with learner's needs
LDU offers rich learning pathways and supplemental resources, including the LDU exclusive CDART, our innovative CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool.
Anticipated continuing education credits
Earn CE credits while improving your laboratory management capabilities and meeting professional development requirements. CE details can be found on each LDU course’s main page.
CLIA deficiency training resources
Understand common compliance issues found during CMS surveys and learn how to proactively address them.
Supplemental resources
- Exclusive! CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool (CDART) and other interactive resources for laboratory directors, CLIA surveyors, and other laboratory professionals.
- Videos featuring real-world scenarios
- Downloadable job aids
CDART
This innovative resource lets laboratory directors, CLIA surveyors, and other laboratory professionals search and access training and regulations relevant to common CLIA deficiencies and the specifics of the CLIA standard in 42 CFR Part 493 – Laboratory Requirements.
LDU Frequently Asked Questions
What is LDU?
Who should join LDU?
How do I join LDU?
Once you’ve done so, click the “Register” button on this page to access the LDU learning pathways.