What occurs in a laboratory?

In a laboratory setting, tests to evaluate specimens are performed as a core function. This involves analyzing various biological samples such as blood, urine, and tissues to provide crucial diagnostic information that supports medical decision-making. These tests can range from simple procedures, like blood counts and metabolic panels, to more complex analyses for infectious diseases and genetic disorders.

Medical treatments, research on new drugs, and outpatient procedures, while critically important in healthcare, do not typically occur in a laboratory. Instead, medical treatments are usually conducted in clinical settings like hospitals or outpatient facilities, drug research typically takes place in dedicated research facilities, and outpatient procedures are performed in healthcare settings designed to provide those specific services to patients. Therefore, the primary role of a laboratory revolves around the evaluation and testing of specimens to inform patient care.