State of affairs and future challenges in laboratory medicine in Spain: an analysis of the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQC ML)

Objectives: Laboratory Medicine is a crucial discipline that contributes to the diagnosis, management and monitoring of patients. This branch of medicine faces two major challenges: New technologies and increased demand. There is limited information available of the state of affairs in Laboratory Medicine in Spain. This study provides a picture of clinical laboratories and clinical laboratory professionals. Methods: The Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine distributed a questionnaire among the 250 most representative centers (the ones with the largest volume of determinations and training programs), of which 174 (69.6%) returned the questionnaire providing data for 2019. Results: Laboratories were classified according to the number of determinations. In total, 37% identified themselves as small (<1 million determinations per year); 40% considered themselves medium-sized (1–5 million determinations per year) and 23% considered they were large laboratories (>5 million determinations). The level of specialization of laboratory physicians and laboratory performance were higher in large laboratories. Most requests (87%) and determinations (93%) corresponded to biochemistry and hematology. As many as 63% of physicians had an indefinite contract, and 23% were older than 60 years. Conclusions: Laboratory medicine is a consolidated discipline that is gaining relevance in Spain. It adds value to the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of diseases, and to treatment response monitoring. The results of this study will help us address challenges such as the need for specialized training for laboratory professionals; the emergence of technological innovations; exploitation of Big Data; optimization of quality management systems and patient safety.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: State of affairs and future challenges in laboratory medicine in Spain: an analysis of the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQC ML) ; volume:4 ; number:1 ; year:2023 ; pages:70-80 ; extent:11 ; Advances in laboratory medicine ; 4, Heft 1 (2023), 70-80 (gesamt 11)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Caballé, Imma ; Buño, Antonio ; Bernabeu, Francisco A. ; Canalias, Francesca ; Moreno, Antonio ; Ibarz, Mercè ; Puzo, José ; González, Concepción ; González, Álvaro

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/almed-2023-0013
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023041114053487676064
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:53 AM CEST