Under CLIA regulations, laboratories can be classified as voluntary nonprofit, for profit, or government laboratories. The primary difference between these types of laboratories is their ownership and operational structure. Voluntary nonprofit laboratories are typically operated by nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals or public health departments, and may be exempt from certain fees and requirements. For profit laboratories are operated for the purpose of making a profit, and may be subject to additional fees and requirements. Government laboratories are operated by federal, state, or local government agencies, and may be subject to different regulations and requirements than private laboratories. It is important for applicants to understand the specific requirements that apply to their laboratory type.