Reference laboratory utilization management

This chapter describes the unique challenges of managing reference laboratory utilization. The nature of reference laboratory testing and how it differs from routine hospital clinical laboratory testing is discussed. The vast majority of reference laboratory testing is high complexity, low volume testing to support specialized care. In contrast the hospital clinical laboratory is most effective at performing rapid turn-around, routine, high volume testing. The implication of these differences with respect to identifying utilization issues and interventions to manage utilization is presented along with examples.