Testing is a routine part of any functional and successful medical business.
However, choosing the wrong lab can have a huge effect on disease treatment, prevention, and diagnosis. It can even open up a medical business to liability and result in it being sued.
There’s a huge variety of labs to choose from. They all promise accurate results and appear qualified. With so many labs competing for business, how do you choose the best one?
If you’ve ever had this question, keep reading. This article will give you the five tips you need to help you choose the right testing laboratory for you.
1. Accreditation
One of the first things you should be checking for when picking a place for laboratory testing is if it is accredited.
Third party accreditation is not mandatory. However, it gives you the assurance that the lab meets certain standards in its quality and technical procedures.
Look for endorsements from programs like the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program. The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation also provides accreditation.
2. Expertise
The ability of a lab to conduct tests expertly and accurately is arguably the most important overall factor in your choice.
You can judge if a lab is knowledgeable by asking about past testing and even speaking to the people who will be conducting the tests. If they are experts, they won’t have a problem with this.
3. Services Available
Investigate the array of services a lab has available, keeping in mind you may need other services in the future. Choosing a provider for lab testing sometimes requires taking a long-term view.
Working with the same lab on multiple projects is much more convenient than picking a new one each time. Labs like LifeBrite Laboratories that offer a wide breadth of services are always a good choice.
4. Turnaround Time
Another major factor in deciding on a laboratory is its turnaround time.
In the medical industry, speed matters. Find out beforehand how long it will take the lab to produce results for your project.
This should be part of your overall strategy of assessing a lab before committing to using its services. You should also be asking about their frequency of repeated or redone work.
5. Location
Logistically, the lab you choose should make sense. Though the location is something you can be flexible on, it is more convenient to choose a lab near you.
If you find a really good laboratory you should not let distance be a barrier. However, then you will then have to keep in mind that transportation costs will add up. You’ll need to factor this into your budget and see if it’s worth the cost.
How Can I Find a Testing Laboratory Near Me?
If you have a couple of testing labs in mind, to narrow things down you can ask them to complete a questionnaire. That way you can assess them on the factors that are important to you.
Now that you know how to choose a testing laboratory, you’re ready to start searching. Use our directory to find medical labs all over the United States.