Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene's role in clinical laboratory improvement.

The clinical laboratory at the beginning of the 21st century is a highly automated, multi-faceted entity, capable of turning out complex test results on a variety of samples in a relatively short period of time. These test results are used by physicians to diagnose illness, establish treatment strategies, and monitor therapies for patients. They must be of the highest quality and reliability to insure that the course of action taken by the health care provider will lead to the best possible outcome for the patient.