[Clinical chemistry in Norway from the beginning of the 1990's]

From 1980 to 1989 the number of chemical tests ordered in Norway increased by approximately 81%. By 1989 it amounted to approximately eight tests per inhabitant per year. The increase has been most marked among outpatients. During the period, the trend has been towards closer cooperation between the laboratory and the primary health care physician, and greater focus on rational use of laboratory resources. Challenges in the nineties are recruiting, to improve cooperation between the clinician and the laboratory, and to put more resources into research.