MLO - Medical Laboratory Observer

A new national survey of 1,000 U.S. patients conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Siemens Healthineers reveals a clear shift:
• 93% expect their doctor to order a lab test if they ask
• 37% have requested testing based on personal research
• 27% pursued blood testing out of curiosity—without a physician’s recommendation

At the same time, nearly half aren’t sharing self-test results with their providers. That’s a major signal for labs navigating quality, education, and patient trust.

👉 Read the full article and survey insights: https://bit.ly/3NAYUMG?

Evolving patient expectations in diagnostic testing: Insights from a national survey A comprehensive survey by YouGov and commissioned by Siemens Healthineers reveals that U.S. patients increasingly seek control over their diagnostic testing, showing a preference...

🚨 Last call for nominations

If your laboratory has made meaningful, measurable improvements, don’t let the work go unnoticed.

The MLO Lab of the Year Award honors laboratories advancing quality patient care—and the professionals behind the scenes making it happen.

🗓 Deadline: TODAY
📧 Submit to: [email protected]

More information here: https://bit.ly/3LDUELN.

It’s time to nominate your spectacular lab for 2026 Lab of the Year! This award coincides with National Medical Laboratory Professional Week, providing an opportunity for labs to showcase their contributions to healthcare. Criteria include customer...

Every day, nearly 2,000 U.S. workers suffer job-related eye injuries—and clinical laboratories are among the highest-risk environments. Even with PPE, splashes and spurts happen. When they do, seconds—not minutes—determine outcomes.

This MLO Online Exclusive emphasizes the critical importance of eye protection in medical laboratories, highlighting standards and OSHA regulations, and advocating for best practices including proper placement, maintenance, and innovative combination units to ensure immediate response during chemical exposures.

👉 Read the full article and see how proximity can change outcomes: https://bit.ly/3LTWt7q.

Proximity — The best solution for effective eyewash stations Eyes are among the most delicate and vital organs of the human body — essential to both our work and our quality of life. In medical laboratory environments, protecting ...

⏰ Final week to apply for the 2026 MLO Lab of the Year Award!

✔ No word limit
✔ Documentation encouraged

If your lab has demonstrated excellence in patient care, productivity, teamwork, customer service, education and training, and strategic outlook—this is your moment.

📩 Submissions due January 23 to [email protected].

It’s time to nominate your spectacular lab for 2026 Lab of the Year! This award coincides with National Medical Laboratory Professional Week, providing an opportunity for labs to showcase their contributions to healthcare. Criteria include customer...

A major shift in cervical cancer screening is here—and clinical laboratories will play a pivotal role.

Earlier this month, HRSA released its first major update to evidence-based cervical cancer screening guidelines in nearly a decade, signaling a clear move toward primary high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing as the preferred option for women ages 30–65.

Key takeaways for lab professionals:
• Primary hrHPV testing every 5 years is now preferred for average-risk women 30–65
• HPV self-collection is explicitly endorsed as an acceptable option for certain groups
• Co-testing with cytology remains acceptable when hrHPV testing isn’t available
• Follow-up testing without cost sharing (including dual stain, genotyping, colposcopy) begins in 2027

Why it matters: hrHPV testing offers higher sensitivity for detecting precancer—and expanded access options like self-collection could help close screening gaps for underserved populations.

As screening models evolve, labs will be central to ensuring accuracy, access, and continuity across the diagnostic pathway.

👉 Read the full breakdown of the updated guidelines and what they mean for laboratory practice: https://bit.ly/4b9teYF

Updated cervical cancer screening guidelines An overview of HRSA's updated evidence-based cervical cancer screening guidelines.