Where does the evidence come from?

The article presents the author's views on the significance of laboratory tests. The need for evidence-based medical decisions has focused on quantitative data as convenient parameters for clinical handling of patients. Most laboratories furnish fast electronic test responses and can provide information on a variety of technical data on these tests. Therefore, the findings from studies of various types must be validated in clinical studies in daily routine to prove their value in patient care. Moreover, laboratory tests have become more central to modern medicine and deserve better evaluation than has been the norm in the past. In modern laboratory medicine the necessary pre-requisites for a valid evaluation are available.