Assays are at the core of any clinical laboratory operation. Indeed, more than 7 billion lab tests are performed in the United States each year, according to the American Clinical Laboratory Association.1
In 2019, Medicare alone spent $7.68 billion on lab tests, ranging from HbA1c assays to genetic tests associated with various types of cancer. When measured by total spending, the most common tests among Medicare beneficiaries are blood tests, including those measuring a comprehensive group of blood chemicals; lipids, thyroid stimulating hormone, and a complete blood cell count.2
But a conversation about lab testing is not complete without mentioning SARS-CoV-2. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, U.S. clinical labs have performed more than 673.5 million tests to detect the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.3
Medical Laboratory Observer features a small sampling of assays in this issue.