NATIONAL LAB WEEK

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week kicks off on
April 19, 2009, calling attention to the vital contributions to
health care by medical laboratory science professionals.

 The theme of the seven-day celebration is “Laboratory Professionals
Get Results.” And get results they do. Laboratory test results
comprise about 70% of a patient’s medical record. Medical
diagnoses and treatment decisions depend on timely and
accurate test results. Working behind the scenes, laboratory
professionals are a critical component of the health care team.
Lab Week recognizes the dedication of these men and women
and calls public attention to the role of medical laboratory
professionals in patient care.

Every year since 1975, laboratory professionals across the
country and, indeed, around the world have set aside one
week during the year to celebrate the vital role they play in
providing answers that guide the cures for an almost limitless
range of diseases.

This year is no different. Certainly, there’s a new theme—
“Laboratory Professionals Get Results.” This year’s has
been chosen to reinforce what people already know about
laboratory professionals; they literally “get results.” But the
“Get Results” theme also refers to the fact that laboratory
professionals make a difference as part of the health care
team because they are highly trained professionals doing
quality work.

In 2006, the name of “Lab Week” was changed to reflect
the fact that the laboratory is more—much more—than a
place. It’s all about people – the hundreds of thousands
of men and women whose lives are dedicated to providing
results and guiding cures.