#1: 70% of diagnoses are dependent #1: 70% of diagnoses are dependent on laboratory testingon laboratory testing

Chest pain? Lab testing helps distinguish a heart attack from

indigestionGut pain?

Lab tests tell your doctor if it’s appendicitis .Is your child lethargic with swollen lymph

nodes and fever? Lab tests will differentiate leukemia from

mononucleosis.

#2: Physicians may not explain lab #2: Physicians may not explain lab results to their patientsresults to their patients

Be sure to ask for copies of your lab results and have the doctor explain them.

You can go to Lab Tests Online to get free explanations of laboratory tests (www.labtestsonline.org) .

#3: Dr. “McDreamy” on Grey’s Anatomy #3: Dr. “McDreamy” on Grey’s Anatomy may be dreamy but he doesn’t do his may be dreamy but he doesn’t do his

patient’s lab testingpatient’s lab testingMost laboratory testing is

performed by educated laboratory professionals with degrees in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Contrary to what you may see on TV, diagnostic labs are professional workplaces -- smoking, eating and

drinking are NOT allowed in the laboratory.

#4: You can trust your laboratory results#4: You can trust your laboratory resultsLaboratory quality control programs are extensive

and prevent errors in your final lab report.“Lab errors” are rare

when they do happen they are usually due to errors that occurred before or after the actual laboratory analysis.

If you need to have another specimen collected it’s probably because: the specimen was mislabeled the wrong test was ordered the specimen was sent to the lab in the wrong

collection container

http://ascls.org/images/

patient_safety/venipuncture_patient_

safety.pdf

Be your own advocate!

Know before you go!

#5: There is a shortage of laboratory #5: There is a shortage of laboratory professionals professionals

• Employment in the Medical Laboratory Science profession is expected to grow by 14% (per Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• 11,000 new professionals will be needed each year through 2018

• Educational programs are only graduating 6,000 professionals per year

Average age of the MLS practitioner is ~47 years oldRetirement mass exodus in 10-15 years coming soon to a lab near

you

#6: Laboratory testing requires #6: Laboratory testing requires sophisticated technologysophisticated technology

Laboratory testing is more than just pushing buttons.

Medical laboratory science professionals need problem solving, questioning, and reasoning skills.

Laboratory results require review, interpretation and correlation before they are released… only educated professionals can do that.

false positive?

true positive?

false negative?

true negative?

#7: Know who is doing your laboratory #7: Know who is doing your laboratory testingtesting

Be an informed consumer. Where is your testing being done?Is the lab accredited? Do they only hire certified/licensed

professionals? Only 12 states and Puerto Rico require

licensing for those who do your testing.

#8: Fasting or adhering to certain dietary #8: Fasting or adhering to certain dietary restrictions is required before some restrictions is required before some

teststestsCertain chemical constituents can

change temporarily after eatingTesting too soon after eating may not

provide an accurate assessment of chemical constituent concentrationExample: Testing for blood sugar and

triglycerides.

Before having any blood test, check with your laboratory professional or doctor

for special instructions

#9: Lab results can vary on the same test #9: Lab results can vary on the same test performed at different laboratoriesperformed at different laboratories

Laboratories may have different instrumentation and reagent suppliers. This is why reference (normal) ranges can vary slightly from lab to lab

Slight changes in your results from time to time within the same lab may not be significant

http://ascls.org/images/patient_safety/

fasting_patient_safety_tips.pdf

Be your own advocate!

Know before you go!

#10: Home testing kits are useful but #10: Home testing kits are useful but may not be as accurate as tests may not be as accurate as tests

performed in an accredited laboratoryperformed in an accredited laboratory

If you perform testing using a home test kit, be sure to follow the directions exactly or the results may not be reliable. For more information go to www.labtestsonline.org .

AcknowledgementsThis presentation is brought to you by the

Promotion of the Profession Committee of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Special thanks go out to Shirlyn McKenzie, Ph.D., MLS, SH(ASCP)cm for authoring the original article upon which this presentation is based.