With 4-5 billion laboratory tests ordered annually in the United States, the role of Laboratory Scientists has become even more critical in the delivery of patient care. It is estimated that 70% of the decisions physicians make when treating patients are directly influenced by a laboratory test result. Ensuring that highly qualified and trained laboratory professionals are available to generate data and analyze results is needed to facilitate the diagnosis and management of disease; this is especially true when considering the number of new laboratory tests becoming available.
Approximately 12,000 new laboratory professionals are needed annually to meet increasing demand. However, only 4,000 to 6,000 new graduates join the workforce each year. Learn more about the importance of Laboratory Scientists by reviewing the infographic below created by the University of Cincinnati Medical Lab Science team.
