To enroll in the CLIA program, what must laboratories achieve after registering and paying fees?

To enroll in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program, laboratories must achieve certification after registering and paying the required fees. Certification signifies that the laboratory has met specific federal standards set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the quality of laboratory testing. This ensures that the laboratory can perform tests and report results in a manner that is reliable and meets the necessary safety and quality benchmarks.

The certification process involves an assessment of the laboratory's operations, procedures, and quality control measures to guarantee compliance with CLIA regulations. Certification is crucial because it enables the laboratory to legally perform tests and receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid programs.

While other options mention important aspects related to laboratory operations, they do not meet the specific requirement of achieving certification for enrollment in the CLIA program.