Preventing errors in patient management: the emergency department clinician and the toxicology laboratory

Poor communication between the clinical toxicologist and the toxicology laboratory can result in a variety of problems. Clinicians must familiarize themselves with the toxicology assays that are available in their hospital and how to interpret assay results. Toxicology tests ordered in the emergency department should provide useful information for patient management and disposition. Toxicology laboratory personnel should have a good working relationship with emergency department clinicians and clinical toxicologists to maximize the usefulness of the laboratory in patient management.