Unlike in the West, few of our medical professional bodies have bothered to lay down guidelines or to implement them. Nor are there any serious attempts to set standards in any field. The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, New Delhi (NABL), has been in existence for a long time, but has had its scope widened about three years ago to include clinical laboratories. In this time frame, only three laboratories -- all in the private sector -- in the country have been accredited. Interestingly, the institutions to which the members themselves belong, are themselves not among the three. Accreditation is currently not compulsory (unlike in the West).