NASCOLA'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT (PROFICIENCY TESTING) FOR TESTS USED TO DIAGNOSE BLEEDING OR PROTHROMBOTIC DISORDERS, THEREBY PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICE FOR SPECIALIZED COAGULATION LABORATORIES IN THE USA, CANADA, MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. OTHER MISSIONS OF NASCOLA INCLUDE PROMOTING EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIANS, LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AMONG LABORATORIES PERFORMING SPECIALIZED COAGULATION TESTING, DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR APPROPRIATE USE, PERFORMANCE AND INTERPRETATION OF COAGULATION TESTS AND RESULTS, PROVIDING A FORUM FOR CRITICAL EVALUATION OF EXISTING AND NEW LABORATORY TEST PROCEDURES, INSTRUMENTATION AND REAGENTS, COLLABORATING WITH OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS TESTING, AND SUPPORTING COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH.