The mission of the Laboratory Improvement Program Office (LIPO) is to ensure the quality of millions of laboratory tests performed in 1,780 medical laboratories, 280 environmental laboratories, and 255 law enforcement agencies located throughout Kansas. This task is accomplished through certification procedures which include annual site visits to evaluate laboratory facilities, methods, staff, and quality assurance procedures against established standards.
Approved laboratories are required to periodically analyze unknown proficiency test samples with an acceptable level of accurate performance. In addition to a regulatory role, the Office also provides formal training courses and other laboratory improvement support for deficiencies identified in Kansas clinical laboratories. The Office works very closely with the KDHE Bureau of Health Facility Regulation on the Medicare certification and state licensure of Kansas hospitals.