SERVICES
FreeiStream.com
The mission of the ICAVL is to promote high quality noninvasive vascular diagnostic examinations Committed to balancing the changing needs of both the vascular community and the general public, the ICAVL was created in 1990 by uniting physicians, technologists and sonographers from the sponsoring organizations. Collaborating together, those physicians, technologists and sonographers composed the body of work known as The Standards, an extensive document defining the minimal requirements for vascular laboratories to provide high quality care. Laboratories use The Standards as both a guideline and the foundation to create and achieve realistic quality care goals.

Noninvasive tests are being promoted to screen for asymptomatic cardiovascular disease, promote risk factor modification, and assure earlier intervention to reduce future morbidity. The current opinion of many specialists in vascular disease is that there are selected groups of asymptomatic people who could benefit from screening.

Although screening examinations may involve self-selected participants and be performed in nontraditional settings, standards of vascular testing similar to diagnostic examinations are nonetheless necessary to ensure high quality patient care and to promote health. The standards of vascular testing for diagnostic examinations are well-established, and the mechanisms to assure the quality of testing are provided through laboratory accreditation and personnel certification.

All noninvasive vascular studies, screening and diagnostic, must be reliable and of high quality. To that end, the critical elements of screening require:

  • Appropriate selection of participants. Screening guidelines must be based upon contemporary scientific publications, and the use of screening in low risk individuals has not been shown to be scientifically valid. Screening cannot replace diagnostic examinations for symptomatic individuals.
  • Participant education describing the nature of screening and significance of normal and abnormal results.
  • Appropriate protocols for examination performance and interpretation.
  • Trained technical personnel that are certified or under the direct supervision of certified personnel. All personnel, those performing and those interpreting examinations, must have adequate experience and relevant training.
  • Well-maintained equipment of sufficient operating condition and quality to provide accurate results.
  • High quality examinations demonstrable through ongoing quality assurance.
  • Appropriate reporting of results to the participant and their health care provider.
  • Compliance with HIPAA and other relevant regulations.
  • Only those entities or laboratories that can demonstrate compliance with the above elements should be considered eligible to perform screening tests.


    • For more information about ICAVL call (832) 467-4404
    or Click Here to ask questions.