title: Observations on the 1996 clinical laboratory conferences.
abstract: The author reviews five trends in the laboratory and diagnostic industries. The five trends are: consolidation of both the diagnostic companies and clinical laboratories (hospital and commercial); pressure to cut costs; robotics; implication of new technology; and the pressure to cut costs by transitioning certain tasks to nontechnical personnel while dealing with an abundant labor supply.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kisner
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D006273:Health Facility Merger; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration; D007221:Industry / Q000639:trends; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000639:trends; D012371:Robotics / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States