The interdisciplinary approach to laboratory medicine.

The clinical laboratory is a melting pot of diverse scientific experiences, perspectives, and approaches, all directed to the solution of particular medical problems. Integration of separate disciplines and areas of expertise is involved at serveral different levels of laboratory medicine. At the outset, one sees that any one area of the laboratory must depend upon all other laboratory areas for the proper interpretation of its data. Stated another way, all laboratory disciplines are involved in the integrated functioning of each individual area. Examination of the origin of analytical concepts fundamental to procedures and instruments utilized in the clinical laboratory leads one to realize that all areas of science contribute to laboratory medicine.