Standardizations of clinical laboratory examinations in Japan.

In this paper we introduce Japanese activities concerning laboratory examinations by illustrating three major categories. The first is the contribution of JCCLS to ISO/TC212 clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems, with NCCLS and CEN TC140. The second is the establishment and promotion of JLAC Classification and Coding for Clinical Laboratory Tests by The Japan Society of Clinical Pathology. The third is a clinical data exchange format between healthcare facilities using MML/MERIT-9 standard, started as a Ministry research project.