Clincal testing

Pathologists play an integral supervisory role within the laboratory. In order for the lab to be certified by accrediting organizations, such as the College of American Pathologists, the laboratory must be supervised by a pathologist.

Quality laboratory services are essential to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The pathologist is professionally responsible and legally accountable for laboratory results. To prepare for the responsibility the pathologist must complete medical residency programs. Moreover, federal certification standards and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations standards require certain professional, organizational, and administrative services be provided in the clinical laboratory to assure quality laboratory services to the patient. The pathologist-director of a hospital clinical laboratory provides professional services in:

1. Assuring that tests, examinations, and procedures are performed, recorded.
   
2. Interacting with members of the medical staff regarding issues of laboratory operations, quality, and test availability.
   
3. Designing protocols and establishing parameters for performance of clinical testing.
   
4. Recommending appropriate follow-up diagnostic tests, when appropriate.
   
5. Supervising laboratory technical personnel and advising them regarding aberrant results.
   
6. Selecting, evaluating, and validating test methodologies.
   
7. Directing, performing, and validating quality assurance and control procedures.
   
8. Evaluating clinical laboratory's compliance with state licensure laws, Medicare conditions, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare, the College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program and federal certification standards.