Total clinical laboratory test volume in Connecticut, 1994-1995

Area of Science:

• Medical Laboratory Science
• Health Services Research
• Public Health Data Analysis

Background:

• Understanding the volume and distribution of clinical laboratory testing is crucial for healthcare resource allocation and public health surveillance.
• Previous data on clinical laboratory test volumes have been fragmented, making comprehensive analysis challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the total volume of clinical laboratory testing conducted in Connecticut over a one-year period.
• To analyze the distribution of testing by facility type and technology category.
• To explore the potential value and applications of a comprehensive clinical laboratory data bank.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of federal and state clinical laboratory registration, licensure, and inspection forms.
• Data compilation from 2,333 registered clinical laboratory test facilities in Connecticut.
• Segregation of test volumes by facility type (hospitals, commercial labs, physician offices) and technology category (chemistry, hematology, microbiology, etc.).

Main Results:

• In 1995, 2,333 facilities performed approximately 65.4 million clinical laboratory analyses in Connecticut, equating to about 20 tests per person annually.
• Acute care hospitals accounted for the largest share of testing (59.4%), followed by large commercial laboratories (33.2%).
• Chemistry (59%) and hematology (23.3%) represented the dominant technology categories for laboratory tests performed.

Conclusions:

• The study established a mechanism for measuring nearly all clinical testing within a defined geographic area.
• The data collection system, while functional, has potential for significant improvement with minor modifications.
• The findings highlight the utility of a centralized data bank for understanding clinical laboratory utilization and informing healthcare policy.