Science, in other words, can also mean moving one step ahead. Humans are discovering, inventing, and modifying everything with time. In medicine, we are exploring and experimenting with new things. In the same way, the laboratory has also evolved. Clinical laboratory and medical laboratory are a laboratory in which they run clinical tests on specimens to gain information about patients’ health.

The clinical laboratory helps in diagnosing the disease and giving the right treatment to the right person. A laboratory may vary in size and their complexities depending on the test they do. Hospital laboratories and medical center’s laboratories have a facility for doing more comprehensive examinations. About 70% of clinical decisions rely on laboratory test results. Commercial medical laboratories work independently; they have a test of their interest and complexity and also provide proof that is not available in other Health facilities. However, the laboratory plays a significant role in the Health Care sector.  Usually, in developed countries, there are two types of laboratories.

• Hospital Laboratory
• Community Laboratory

Hospital Laboratory is in hospitals and runs tests on patients of that hospital. The Community Laboratory does testing for the public or even sometimes for hospitals. Sometimes some tests are essential, so they are sent to the research laboratory.  A laboratory can be unique in some uncommon test, and sometimes specimens are sent from one laboratory to another for analysis.

 Nowadays, Laboratories are now getting well-equipped with advanced technology like Primex labs; from online providing services to patient’s records-keeping, everything is computerized. Laboratories have LIS known as laboratory information systems; this system consists of a software program, terminology standards, and computer. A laboratory information system enables the exchange of data of patients and test results. A laboratory information system connects itself with the hospital information system.

Test results Validation

According to an International organization for Standardization, qualified professionals must evidence all results of the pathological laboratory. However, the staff of a laboratory is skilled, trained, and qualified. Clinical laboratory staff includes; Pathologist, laboratory assistant, biomedical scientist, Medical Laboratory Assistant. The laboratory staff has a responsibility to give a limited interpretation of results; however, some laboratory software interprets the results. Sometimes professional teams such as pathologists or clinical biologists transcribe the particular test results.

Laboratory services not for a doctor

Laboratory expert service is not for a doctor. We typically assume that a clinical scientist works for the doctor; well, this is not true. This assumption is because of two reasons; first, laboratory staff hesitates to give an interpretation or guide the test. Second, doctors recommend the correct test. Furthermore, giving the status of the medical consultant to laboratory experts is neglected. It is due to improper communication between the medical department and the laboratory. For a prosperous health care system laboratory, staff must have the same status as other experts in Medical discipline. The modern healthcare system aims to develop a better communication system between doctors and laboratory staff.

A laboratory test is like intervention (diagnosis), and diagnosis is significant if it is beneficial. Laboratory tests play a crucial role in the treatment of patients. Laboratory test results provide information to the doctor for effective treatment. 70% treatment of patients relies on the outcome of the laboratory, so they need to give the correct result. The laboratory needs to have advanced technology in healthcare sector Laboratory error doesn’t occur in labs, either they are pre-analytic or post-analytic.

The clinical laboratory has a significant role in the health care discipline—clinical laboratory influences clinical decision making.  The clinical laboratory provides information used by doctors, nurses, and physicians to prevent, diagnose, and treat any illness. A study has shown that about 85% of the treatment decision was made on the laboratory results. We usually assume that clinical laboratory staff or experts have nothing to do; they push buttons. However, this is incorrect. A laboratory that is well running does much more than run tests. Hospitals keep their laboratory up to date and test inset to run tests promptly to start treatment as soon as possible. They keep an eye on laboratory maintenance for accurate and reliable tests.

The clinical laboratory plays a crucial role in increasing the delivery of care. They help physicians to make evidence-based diagnoses. The clinical laboratory provides the most cost-effective information for diagnosing, preventing, and improving patient outcomes in the healthcare discipline.

Patient Care Management

The clinical laboratory plays an essential role in patient care management. They provide information that helps in deciding when to start, discontinue, or adjust the treatment. Physicians can tell you the most appropriate and cost-effective medication with the help of clinical information. Some examples of laboratory values are below:

• Identify the cause of infection
• Observing the effectiveness of cancer therapy
• Deciding on the most appropriate time, and for the time
• Monitoring the effectiveness of antibiotics

The clinical decision can be wrong without this information. Laboratory information has a real impact on patient treatment. The clinician designs a testing algorithm and guides how to process the diagnoses to get an accurate result at the right time. Hospitals and physicians are getting involved in an integrated model. They will fully integrate the results, diagnoses, and treatment of patients. In this integrated healthcare, the laboratory will play a key role in deleting unnecessary tests and reducing medical costs. They will work closely with the medical experts in advising the test.

Conclusion

We see the value of the laboratory in the health care sector. We can see that physicians, doctors, and medical experts all rely on laboratory testing. They needed them the most. Without laboratory information, a doctor is reluctant to make the most accurate diagnoses or start his medication. However, we do not give the same status of medical experts to laboratory staff in health care.  They must integrate the laboratory into the clinical practice for the higher benefit of the patient. They should be involved in the consultation of ordering tests with the medical staff.