Lab Tests Online: a Ground-Breaking and Enduring Health Resource

Long before patients were allowed to order lab tests themselves, many patients were confused about even routine tests that their doctor ordered. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry recognized early on the need for concise, peer-reviewed descriptions of individual tests. They set up a system that discussed (i) the reason to get tested, (ii) when to get tested, (iii) the sample required, (iv) any test preparation needed, (v) what was being tested, (vi) when the test should be ordered, and (vii) what the test result meant. Gradually, the included tests were expanded to other areas of laboratory medicine, including microbiology. Lab Tests Online is now a multiple-award-winning website with millions of viewers worldwide. This is the story of the creation and use of the website.