Clinical laboratory testing provides objective data about the health of a patient which enables healthcare providers to screen for risk factors, perform early diagnosis, evaluate the severity of many disease states and recovery statistics, the monitoring of treatment and the total evaluation of these outcomes.
Patient safety is another area which laboratory services provide a critical part of the overall healthcare process. An example of this is the ability to monitor optimum drug levels in vivo for patients on drug therapies. Personalized prescribing of medications can also be achieved through laboratory testing. Another example is how laboratories screen blood supplies for pathogens in donated blood. This safety mechanism is extremely important for surgery and disease states that require blood transfusions.
Evidence based medicine is the foundation which laboratory services provide to healthcare. This evidence based ideology is being incorporated into standard operating procedures throughout healthcare which assists providers and patients with making decisions about individual’s health care in specific circumstances. A greater attention is being given to evidence based medicine by doctors and payers which is paving a new path to improved care giving practices.