League tables of biochemical laboratory costs. An attempt to modify requesting patterns

"League tables", ordered by potential cost of biochemical laboratory tests requested, were distributed at four-week intervals to all medical specialists of a 500-bed tertiary care teaching hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, in an attempt to reduce the workload of the laboratory. This information feedback did not appear to have any effect on over-all laboratory utilisation or on any individual requesting pattern. However, much useful information on laboratory use was collated and summarised. It appears that more active intervention is required to eliminate unnecessary requesting of laboratory tests.