Educating Doctors About Diagnostics Seen as Challenge for Expanded Use

Physicians’ lack of understanding of diagnostic testing is a major roadblock to expanded use of an important health-care tool, panelists said at an industry event March 23.

Diagnostic tests and screenings determine the likelihood of disease in a patient for the purpose of making a clinical diagnosis. Tests include bone density studies, biopsies, complete blood counts and mammograms. But some physicians don’t have a complete understanding of specific, and in particular, newer diagnostic tests, the panel said at the American Clinical Laboratory Association’s annual meeting.

“Physicians are not going to ...