title: Progress in clinical laboratories.
abstract: Conventional wisdom perceives progress in the clinical laboratory as a wider menu of available tests and technologies. In this review, we analyze a different concept of progress and propose the following actions: better communication with clinicians, quality control, containment of costs, continuing education and interrelation among laboratories, critical evaluation of emerging technologies, review of work safety, and implementation and/or review of regulations. In the future, clinical laboratories will have to offer quality tests, useful information, and low costs.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Clinical Laboratories 90095-1713, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018578:Hospital-Physician Relations; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000191:economics; D016272:Occupational Health