The document contains responses from three medical professionals on how to increase visibility and importance of clinical laboratories. Daniel Garwicz from Sweden emphasizes the importance of professional excellence and societies promoting competent laboratory staff. Moushumi Lodh from India suggests prioritizing pregnant women's education on laboratory tests to benefit their and their families' long-term health. Jianhua Han from China recommends more case-based conferences between laboratories and physicians to help laboratories better explain test results and their clinical relevance for diagnosis.

1. Daniel Garwicz, Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala, Sweden
Medical laboratory staff are often invisible to the public, patients and politicians although we make
vital contributions to the daily diagnosis of diseases. The best way for clinical chemistry and laboratory
medicine to become more visible is to strive for professional excellence. International and national
societies of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians and research scientists as well as the health
care providers have a tremendously important task in the years ahead to successfully promote and
reward existing competent personnel and recruit, train and retain new generations of talented young
men and women.
Moushumi Lodh, The Mission Hospital
Durgapur, India
I would place pregnant women at the top of the priority list, ensuring that they are educated about
their antenatal health check ups, the tests required in the course of their pregnancy, and the health
check up of their babies. This antenatal period is the time that the entire family listens and follows
most of our instructions. Once the mother is convinced about how necessary the clinical lab is for her
life and her family’s, most of the work of health care provider is done. In the long run, we are doing
our bit for the society by ensuring the clinical laboratory is indispensable in prevention and cure.
Jianhua Han, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH)
Beijing, China
In my opinion, I think more conferences should be held between the clinical laboratory and physicians
that are based upon case reports. Modern clinical laboratory technologists should focus not only on
generating the results, but also should be ready to explain the clinical relevance of these results. With
the evolution of medical knowledge, the clinical laboratory represents a potential resource to help
physicians with diagnosis.
http://www.aacc.org/publications/clin_chem/ClinChemTrainCouncil/quovadis/2013/question5/Pages/default.aspx#