In the ongoing battle for health equity, clinical laboratories are becoming major players in bridging the gap between patients and essential healthcare. Because of their extensive patient interactions, clinical laboratories are positioned to significantly impact the space, with innovations like at-home tests.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, shared with Lab Manager that the industry has seen major progress in reducing barriers to healthcare in recent years. Mobile clinics have brought laboratory testing and services to communities grappling with socioeconomic challenges. Programs providing free at-home testing to underserved populations have built trust and facilitated early disease detection. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in laboratories has enhanced efficiency and accuracy.

“Amid this progress, however, more work must be done to make clinical diagnostics an agent for change,” said Dr. Morice. “We collectively need to think about how to make tests more accessible by meeting people where they are, in ways that are affordable, understandable, and actionable.”

The focus remains on making clinical diagnostics more accessible, affordable, and attainable. Building trust within underserved communities requires healthcare professionals to actively engage and listen to their needs. Ultimately, the collective efforts aim to ensure that healthcare outcomes are determined by medical decisions and genetics, not by socioeconomic status or geographic location.

Read the full article in Lab Manager.