Progress in clinical laboratories.

Conventional wisdom perceives progress in the clinical laboratory as a wider menu of available tests and technologies. In this review, we analyze a different concept of progress and propose the following actions: better communication with clinicians, quality control, containment of costs, continuing education and interrelation among laboratories, critical evaluation of emerging technologies, review of work safety, and implementation and/or review of regulations. In the future, clinical laboratories will have to offer quality tests, useful information, and low costs.