The UK Pathology Harmony initiative; The foundation of a global model

•UK Pathology Harmony has worked since 2007•Methods for harmonisation have been developed•Clinical biochemistry and haematology recommendations have been made•Clinical guidelines and other areas of harmonisation have been started

The United Kingdom Pathology Harmony project commenced in 2007 and has been widely mirrored around the world. This initiative evolved through three separate phases of work. Fundamental to the project has been the ability to question variation in the work of the pathology laboratory that has been in place sometimes for a very long time, and yet appears to have little scientific foundation. Work has been undertaken on a methodological approach to studying variation in reference intervals and then moving forward with consensus values. On a wider level there is much else in pathology that can be harmonised from test names and units, through to the clinical guidance we offer for using our tests and work has been undertaken in several of these areas.