In Brief
Hospitals and medical practitioners require high-quality and reliable laboratory testing to allow for timely diagnosis and monitoring of their patients.
At ICL, we simplify the laboratory referral process, providing ‘white glove’ logistics services. From test-ordering, to the tracking of samples, to the quick and reliable reporting of patient results, we have you covered every step of the way.
Licence and Accreditation
ICL is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and accredited by Accreditation Canada Diagnostics, holding 15189 Plus™ and ISO27001:2022 certificates. Backed by advanced security technology and SOC 2 certification, we uphold the highest standards for data protection, privacy, and operational integrity.
Should you require ICL to complete a Referral Laboratory Qualification form for your laboratory accreditation, please submit your request and form to info@iclabs.ca.
Click the logo below for a downloadable copy of the ISO 15189 Plus licence and accreditation certificate. For a copy of our ISO27001:2022 certification, please connect with us directly.
History
In-Common Laboratories (ICL) was founded on a simple but powerful idea: hospitals labs are stronger when they work together to serve patients and support public health care.
Established in 1967 by Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, and Ottawa Civic Hospital, ICL began as Hospitals In-Common Laboratory (HICL). This cooperative was created to help Ontario hospitals share laboratory testing and optimize existing resources.
In the early 1970s HICL became an independent not-for-profit organization, and that model remains today. As Canada’s first choice not-for-profit medical laboratory, ICL does not have shareholders. Instead, any surplus revenues are reinvested into hospital laboratories, equipment, and patient care across the country.
As this successful model evolved, ICL expanded to support hospital laboratories across Canada. By enabling hospitals to share laboratory testing, ICL helps clinicians leverage cross-country hospital lab offerings, scale and access specialized expertise, and keep testing within the public health care system.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICL played a leading role in meeting an urgent and critical need for laboratory testing. As demand surged, the organization rapidly scaled its operations, working with hospitals, Public Health Ontario Laboratories, Ontario Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health to deliver up to 5,000 tests a day and perform more than two million COVID-19 tests across the province.
Today, ICL works alongside hospitals and health systems in more than 10 provinces and territories. Guided by collaboration and a Canadian-first approach, ICL continues to strengthen hospital laboratories and support better care for patients from coast to coast to coast.
Timeline: Nearly 60 years of milestones
In-Common Laboratories (ICL) is founded
ICL, which began as Hospitals In-Common Laboratory (HICL), is established by three Canadian hospitals to share laboratory testing and strengthen public health care.
A not-for-profit path
ICL becomes an independent, not-for-profit organization, focused on keeping laboratory testing and health care dollars within Canada’s public system.
Collaboration over competition
ICL continues to champion hospital laboratories, focusing on referrals and partnerships that support hospital expertise and patient care.
Adapting to change
Health care system changes lead ICL to reshape its operations, reinforcing its role as a national partner to hospital laboratories.
Responding to COVID-19
ICL helps lead Ontario’s pandemic testing response, performing more than two million COVID-19 tests in partnership with hospitals, pharmacies, and public health.
Canada’s choice for lab referral testing
ICL is Canada’s first choice, not-for-profit medical laboratory, reinvesting surplus revenue into public health care – supporting hospital labs and patient care across the country.