Which types of laboratories are regulated under CLIA regulations?

The correct answer indicates that all U.S. facilities performing testing on human specimens are regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. CLIA encompasses a broad range of laboratory settings, including hospitals, physician office labs, and independent laboratories, thus ensuring that any facility conducting tests on human samples adheres to standards of quality and accuracy.

This comprehensive regulation is essential to maintain the quality of laboratory testing, as it directly impacts patient care and safety. The CLIA regulations establish quality standards related to laboratory testing, including personnel qualifications, laboratory practices, and quality control measures.

The other options provided are too narrow or specific in their scope. For instance, options referring only to hospital laboratories or medical laboratories associated with universities overlook the wide array of independent and outpatient laboratories that also perform testing. The choice that mentions laboratories conducting research fails to recognize that CLIA primarily governs testing aimed at diagnosing and monitoring patient health rather than purely research purposes. Thus, the scope of CLIA is much broader, applying to all facilities performing laboratory tests on human specimens across the United States.