文档介绍：Clinical Chemistry 46:8
1041–1050 (2000) Review
Evidence-based Laboratory Medicine:
Supporting Decision-Making
Christopher P. Price
There is an implicit acceptance that an evidence-based controlled trials as the only means of meeting rigid
culture underpins the practice of laboratory medicine, in criteria on acceptable evidence and the demise of the
part because it is perceived as the scientific foundation expert opinion (3). However, the rhetoric that surrounds
of medicine. However, several reviews of specific test the debate on evidence-based medicine needs to be put
procedures or technologies have shown that the evi- into context, recognizing that the burgeoning levels of
dence base is limited and in many cases flawed. One of knowledge and the increasingly multidisciplinary nature
the key deficiencies in the scientific literature on diag- of healthcare are placing increasing demands on all prac-
nostic tests often is the absence of an explicit statement titioners (4).
of the clinical need, ., the clinical or operational Interestingly, to date evidence-based medicine appears
question that the use of the test is seeking to answer. to have had limited impact in the sphere of laboratory
Several reviews of the literature on specific procedures medicine. Furthermore, there are some data to suggest
have also demonstrated that the experimental method- that adhe