laboratoriumzorg

Laboratoriumzorg is a component of healthcare that focuses on the care and service surrounding diagnostic laboratory testing. It encompasses patient-facing activities and the logistical and technical processes that accompany laboratory investigations, from test indication to result communication. The aim is to support accurate testing while enhancing patient safety, comfort, and understanding of procedures.

Scope: In hospitals, clinics, and primary care settings, laboratoriumzorg covers pre-analytical activities (patient preparation, consent, venipuncture, sample labeling and collection), analytical work performed in the laboratory, and post-analytical activities (result verification, reporting, and notification to clinicians). It also includes sample transport, storage, and chain-of-custody, as well as patient education about the necessity of testing and procedure steps.

Roles and settings: Practitioners include phlebotomists, laboratory technicians, clinical nurses with specimen-collection expertise, and laboratory physicians. They work in clinical laboratories, transfusion services, microbiology, hematology, and biochemistry, within hospitals and in outreach or community labs.

Quality and safety: Laboratoriumzorg emphasizes standardized procedures, biosafety, quality control, and accreditation requirements (such as ISO 15189). Quality assurance includes internal checks, proficiency testing, and incident reporting to minimize pre-analytical errors that affect results.

Digital tools and patient-centered care: Electronic health records, laboratory information systems (LIMS), and patient portals support result delivery and data privacy. Clear communication, consent, and education about test results are important components of patient-centered laboratory care.