**Reviewer Questions:**

1. **What is the central role of a clinical laboratory in healthcare?**

**Answer:** A clinical laboratory plays a central role in healthcare by providing essential information
to healthcare professionals.

2. **What percentage of medical decisions is estimated to rely on laboratory results?**

**Answer:** Approximately 70% of all medical decisions are based on laboratory results.

3. **List five key purposes of a clinical laboratory in providing information to healthcare professionals.**

**Answer:** Clinical laboratories provide information to healthcare professionals to:

- Detect disease or predisposition to disease.

- Confirm or reject a diagnosis.

- Establish prognosis.

- Guide patient management.

- Monitor the efficacy of therapy.

4. **Apart from healthcare support, what other roles do clinical laboratories play in the broader context
of healthcare?**

**Answer:** In addition to healthcare support, clinical laboratories also play roles in education,
research, information technology design and implementation, and quality improvement.
5. **What are the essential components that a clinical laboratory must utilize to successfully achieve its
goals?**

**Answer:** To achieve its goals successfully, a clinical laboratory must utilize the following essential
components:

- Medical, scientific, and technical expertise.

- Resources, including personnel, laboratory equipment, supplies, and facilities.

- Organization, management, and communication skills.

6. **Explain the significance of clinical laboratories in guiding patient management.**

**Answer:** Clinical laboratories provide critical information that guides healthcare professionals in
making decisions related to patient management, including treatment plans and interventions based on
test results.