CLSI eNews - 8 June 2005 (Plain Text Version)

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News
Executive Vice President's Message
Milestone ISO/TC 212 Meeting in DC
Volunteer Focus
Press Releases
Standards Status
Vote and Deadlines
New CLSI Documents
New ISO Standards
Terminology Focus
Events and Exhibits
Upcoming Events
Calendar of Meetings
Participating in CLSI
Volunteer
New and Sustaining Member List
Update Your Subscription

Executive Vice President's Message

Standardization vs. Innovation

I recently had a conversation with two of our volunteers on the subject of whether standardization inhibits innovation. Our discussion was inconclusive, and the question has been weighing on my mind ever since.

The heart of what we do at Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has always been standardization of best, gold-standard practices. Our consensus process, by its very nature, dictates that resolutions are only reached after long and careful consideration by leaders from government, industry, and the professions. It follows that best practices are sometimes—necessarily—documented through a rearview mirror.

But, after reviewing the new projects that our area committees, subcommittees, and working groups are developing, I have come to the simple conclusion that standardization and innovation are not mutually exclusive. No less than half of our new projects directly relate to emerging technologies and products. And many innovative technologies and practices are largely based on proven practices and standards. We do more than synopsize and document current best practices; we foster the progress of new and beneficial science.

CLSI advances quality in health care by serving as a central clearinghouse of best practices, both current and cutting edge. Keeping up with the times, in the past two years, we have reduced our document development cycle time from project proposal to completed standard by 30%, and our goal for the next two years is to reduce it by another 25%.

After all, innovators can’t be caught napping.

Glen