Biochemical test profiles and laboratory system design.

More appropriate utilization of laboratory services is achieved when the hospital laboratory system is designed to meet clinical needs efficiently. Structured test profiles should be constructed to match the clinical problems, treatments, and test ordering patterns of clinicians. Minor modifications in test composition may be necessary by the laboratory physician, but instrument configuration alone should not be the controlling factor. Structured test profiles reduce the number of communication and sample collection errors. More frequent scheduled sample collections and test "runs" reduce the number of emergency tests ordered. Computer analysis and transmission of test results reduce the number of telephone communications and increase the usefulness of data. When guidelines are provided to the clinician about test selection and result interpretation, the usefulness of laboratory information increases, personnel efficiency increases, personnel errors and staffing requirements decrease, the quality of service improves, and the rate of cost increase declines. Most clinicians willingly modify their test needs and the manner in which tests are ordered if the structured profiles are readily available and convenient to order, the measurements are made frequently and the results are reported promptly, more assistance is provided for test result interpretation, and the quality of the test results is high without an increase in cost.