The Role of Laboratory Testing in Disease Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Disease diagnosis is a complex process that involves the recognition of a constellation of signs and symptoms that are suggestive of a specific disease. While certain disease diagnoses can be made entirely on the basis of clinical presentation, the large majority of disease diagnoses are confirmed with the use of one or more laboratory tests. Laboratory tests are performed on a variety of different sample types, including blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and joint fluid, among others. These tests can be performed in different laboratory settings, including clinical laboratories, point-of-care testing sites, and physician office laboratories. Clinical laboratories can be further categorized as belonging to three different types: hospital-based laboratories, independent clinical reference laboratories, and specialty laboratories.