Laboratory test utilization

Abstract

One aspect of laboratory medicine that seldom gets presented to training physicians and patients is laboratory test utilization. Effective laboratory test utilization is a strategy for performing appropriate, cost-effective diagnostic analysis without compromising quality. It can be distilled to considering what test to order, how often to order it, and on what type of patient it should be ordered on with consideration not only of diagnosis, but also resources. Test utilization does not always equate to fewer laboratory tests. While cost is often the focus as healthcare expenditures continue to rise, test utilization is also a patient safety issue. Inappropriate tests can directly result in unnecessary blood loss and may contribute towards unnecessary procedures, follow-up testing, and may even cause harm. Test utilization is also linked to patient care directly, where selection of the appropriate lab tests aid in diagnosing or monitoring a disease more accurately. This chapter outlines the importance of appropriate laboratory utilization, identifies what kinds of tests are more expensive than others and why, and the strategies that physicians and laboratories can use to ensure effective test utilization.