The role of the clinical pathologist in physician's office testing.

Optimal use of the clinical laboratory requires that the clinical laboratory pathologist understand the nature of the clinician's task and how clinical laboratory data will be used, and that the clinician understand the capabilities and limitations of the information provided by clinical laboratory tests. Neither of these conditions is currently met. A new cooperative relationship between clinicians and clinical laboratory scientists is essential. This should result in substantial clinical and societal benefit, as well as improved performance by both groups of physicians.