RT Journal
A1 Lundberg GD
T1 THe need for an outcomes research agenda for clinical laboratory testing
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1998
FD August 12
VO 280
IS 6
SP 565
OP 566
DO 10.1001/jama.280.6.565
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.280.6.565
AB 
"The frequency with which a laboratory test may be ordered varies from
none to constant monitoring of all variables. What should be done? What constitutes
good laboratory medicine? Should the physician order one of each available
laboratory test on each patient once a lifetime, once a year, once an hour,
or never? Many forces influence these decisions. Among them are availability
of laboratory service, policies of technical instrument and reagent manufacturers,
what the physician knows about the medical need for the test, and economic
considerations, such as cost and who makes the profit or takes the loss. Laboratory
tests should not be ordered without a plan for using the information gained.
What will be done if the test result is normal? High? Low?"1- 2