THE MOBILE LABORATORY IN ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING

The establishment of mobile or portable laboratories as one strategy f or delivery of laboratory services at alternative sites is evaluated. The mobile laboratory may be used to replace centralized laboratory te sting in areas of critical need, such as critical care areas of the ho spital in which relatively large numbers of tests are needed quickly. Other possible areas of use include outpatient clinics and other outre ach settings in which care of the patient may be hastened by the avail ability of laboratory data on a real-time basis. In such areas where a need is established, mobile laboratory testing may be performed econo mically and may enhance the position of the medical technologist as a hands-on clinical caregiver.