title: Chronobiology in the clinical laboratory.
abstract: 'When to sample?' is a basic question in the clinical laboratory. After some considerations on the concept of biological time in laboratory medicine, the author discusses the implications of sampling time in laboratory tests, either they are performed for diagnosis and prognosis, monitoring therapy, prevention, assessment of risk or for legal reasons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biochimica Clinica ed Ematologia, Ospedale Cà Granda, Niguardo, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montalbetti
mesh_terms: D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D006801:Humans