Today, laboratory testing is performed in many different
settings – from the large reference lab that performs complex
kinds of tests to your own home, where you might do a pregnancy
test or monitor your blood glucose levels. Many of us, however,
may wonder where our tests actually are performed. As we learn
to take a more active role in our medical care, a clear
understanding of what happens when our blood or urine or other
body fluid specimen is sent "off to the lab" will help us to
become more knowledgeable participants in our own health care.
All labs are not the same for the simple reason that not all
tests are the same. Just as tests vary in complexity, so too do
labs vary in complexity, the volume of tests performed, the
technology utilized, and the number and type of professionals
who conduct the testing. There are important differences among
the various testing settings. This information should be useful
in understanding the variety of laboratory testing available.