Laboratory medicine's role in identifying and managing diseases

Abstract

Through the provision of vital diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring data to assist patient care, laboratory medicine—also referred to as clinical laboratory science or medical laboratory science—plays a critical role in contemporary healthcare. It includes several disciplines and procedures designed to analyze biological specimens for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of diseases, evaluation of treatment efficacy, and enhancement of general health. Laboratory medicine specialists, encompassing medical laboratory scientists, pathologists, and laboratory technicians, diligently operate behind the scenes to produce precise and dependable laboratory test findings. These results are essential elements in the decision-making process for doctors, directing the diagnosis, treatment, and management of many medical diseases (Nemenqani, D. M., et al. 2017). The domain of laboratory medicine is advancing swiftly, propelled by innovations in technology, automation, informatics, and molecular diagnostics. Laboratories are consistently enhancing their capabilities, transitioning from old methods such as microscopy and culture to advanced techniques like next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry, in response to the increasing needs of contemporary healthcare (Lippi, G., & Plebani, M. 2020).