LABORATORY MEDICINE-PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Keeping the traditions of its founders, clinical laboratory activity is constantly expanding the spectrum of laboratory testing, introducing new hardware technologies, increasing the number of laboratory specialists and the servicing of patients who need an accurate, timely and reliable diagnosis. Overthe years, medical science is undergoing a remarkable evolution, as the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases goes from a generalized concept of health and disease to a personalized approach involving solutions tailored to the specific needs of a patientaccording to the individual needs or to an existing risk of disease. Also, the so-called 'Precision' or 'Personalized' Medicine leads to various change strategies in Clinical Laboratories aimed at cost containment, consolidation of structures, changes in management, introduction of new technologies and standards. The ‘Consolidation’ paradigm is not new to healthcare. Theexistence of many laboratories located within one geographical area that carry out similar activities and provide the same laboratory tests is considered as unjustified. Therefore, the so-called ‘Consolidation’ of Clinical Laboratories withinone and the same geographical area is proposed. The model for consolidation of healthcare activities is derived from the aviation industry in 1955, thus optimizing both human and technical resources and generating significant cost savings. In recent decades, the introduction of new technologies, the consolidation of laboratories and the limitation of "pointless costs" leadto more rapid development of Personalized Medicine in healthcare. An indisputable fact is the tendency for the development of Laboratory Medicine from a classical discipline into a science that studies the basic biochemical processes in the body within the scope of health and disease, discovering and implementing new biomarkers and developing innovative and more efficient technologies. Most forecasts for the development of Laboratory Medicine are optimistic, targeting more effective treatments, eradication of diseases, and increasing of life expectancy. Prospects for the future of the Clinical Laboratory continue to be a source of interest for the healthcare professionals. Different concepts for the future of Laboratory Medicine exist. Some are already a reality, and others are expected to play an important role in the development of this medical specialty.