Clinical Laboratory Informatics

Over 70% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory data, according to some surveys. Given the critical role that laboratory information plays in patient care, it is imperative that laboratories have effective systems for collecting, managing, storing, analyzing, and distributing this data. This article first provides a general overview of the flow of information to and from the laboratory and the steps involved in laboratory testing. Next, it describes the key role that information systems play in each of these steps. Subsequent sections describe some of the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of laboratory informatics, providing an outline of the data structures and standards that support laboratory information management, as well as providing an overview of exciting emerging technologies, including medical language processing and digital image analysis. Keywords: clinical informatics; laboratory informatics; laboratory information system; medical vocabulary; medical language processing; digital microscopy; digital image; quality control; resource utilization; provider order entry