Errors in clinical laboratory test selection and result interpretation: Commonly unrecognized mistakes as a cause of poor patient outcome

Abstract

Over the past decade, the test menu in the clinical laboratory has increased dramatically in size, cost, and complexity. Most practicing physicians would agree that it is a challenge to select the appropriate tests, and only the appropriate tests, with a clinical laboratory test menu of thousands of assays, many of which are genetic tests. This results in delayed diagnoses or incorrect diagnoses from errors in test selection and a failure to interpret tests correctly. Teams of diagnostic experts in a variety of specialty areas in laboratory medicine to aid treating physicians in test selection and result interpretation are being implemented to address this growing problem which frequently leads to significant diagnostic errors and the associated financial consequences.