KU CLS: History

The CLS program at the University of Kansas continues its tradition as a pioneer in education and training of clinical laboratory scientists.

HISTORY

Early in the 20th century, physicians commonly performed the few diagnostic laboratory examinations in existence. By the 1930s, the complexity and scope of diagnostic testing had advanced to the point that the physician had neither the time nor skill to continue that practice and specialists in the performance of clinical testing emerged. These specialists are Clinical Laboratory Scientists (also sometimes known as Medical Technologists).

The University of Kansas was among the pioneers in providing CLS education to students and the specialty areas of laboratory medicine now include clinical chemistry, hematology, transfusion services, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology and the emerging field of molecular diagnostics.

Once again, The University of Kansas has demonstrated the “pioneer” spirit in developing and implementing a comprehensive molecular biotechnology concentration to meet the needs of diagnostic and research laboratories of the future. In the spring of 2004, the Dept. of CLS at the University of Kansas was granted initial accreditation from NAACLS for its molecular concentration – one of the first two programs in the nation to seek and achieve this goal.

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