Some historical perspectives on AACC

During the mid-1960s, the clinical chemistry profession began to take on new substance and new directions as its significance in the general US healthcare system came more prominently into public view. In part, this was precipitated by concern about the at-times unscrupulous and unprofessional conduct of certain laboratories in their treatment of human specimens obtained as part of the diagnostic process. “Sink testing, ” as it was referred to by the press, had all the makings of a national scandal. Prompt and efficient action was required to focus proper attention on the professionality of clinical chemists. The American Association of Clinical Chemists (as AACC was then named) was greatly concerned, but lacked the re-sources to become pivotally involved on its own. As a consequence, an effective working relationship was estab-lished with the American Chemical Society (ACS). aacc beginnings In 1950, the AACC had perceived the need to underscore the competency of adequately trained and experienced clinical chemists by helping to form the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) to certify practitioners of clinical chemistry. Those who were certified had to hold a PhD degree or its equivalent and were certified by virtue of a rigorous written examination. By the 1960s, it was recognized that the profession included a larger corps of qualified professionals, many of them at the BS and MS levels, who also were vital to clinical chemistry. As a result, the National Registry in Clinical Chemistry (NRCC) was created in 1967 to certify these professionals also. Pivotally involved in its formation were AACC