ASCLS Today is the membership newsletter of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
To submit an article for ASCLS Today, contact Editor Debra Rodahl.
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary Clinical laboratory science educators create a lasting impact beyond the classroom by shaping students’ diagnostic reasoning, professional communication, and commitment to patient safety. Through innovative pedagogy, mentorship, and workforce pipeline support, their choices ripple into stronger clinical practice, improved patient outcomes, and a more resilient profession, multiplying…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary The article highlights how clinical laboratory professionals have suffered from shrinking staff, lost autonomy, and emotional exhaustion. It emphasizes the need for visibility, acknowledging their grief, sacrifices, and unmet needs. By validating their sadness, the author argues, workers can begin to adapt, heal, and reclaim their humanity…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article highlights how medical laboratory professionals extend their impact beyond the lab through community engagement and interprofessional collaboration. By working in pro-bono clinics and educational settings, they enhance patient care, improve specimen quality, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen connections between laboratory scientists, clinicians, students, and the…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article emphasizes that every medical laboratory test represents a real patient whose safety depends on accuracy. It highlights how errors can jeopardize care and stresses accountability, mindfulness, and leadership in fostering a culture where precision and ethical responsibility outweigh speed in the laboratory. Reinforcing a Culture…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary While physicians are often at the forefront of patient care, diagnostic laboratories serve as the backbone of modern medicine. Medical laboratory professionals, though rarely visible to patients, play an essential role in diagnosing diseases, guiding treatment, and ultimately saving lives. This article emphasizes the importance of laboratory…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary The author traces her path from clinical laboratory scientist to educator, made possible by federally supported graduate funding. She warns that new federal loan limits could restrict access to advanced degrees, shrinking the pipeline of laboratory educators, harming workforce stability, and threatening the future of clinical laboratory…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article outlines how ASCLS members can advance diagnostic stewardship by submitting evidence-based test utilization recommendations. It traces the evolution from Choosing Wisely to Effective Test Utilization, explains submission criteria and review steps, and encourages laboratorians to help reduce misuse, improve patient safety, and promote high‑value care.…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary Written in the witty voice of Lady Whistledown, this letter champions the often-invisible clinical laboratory. It calls on leaders to recognize, respect, and care for laboratory professionals, warning that neglect, unrealistic demands, and lack of acknowledgment imperil well‑being, talent retention, and ultimately, patient care. Dispatches from the…
Volume 39 Number 6 | December 2025 Summary The authors argue that casual stereotypes about medical laboratory professionals—such as calling them introverts or saying they don’t like people—undermine inclusion and belonging. These labels flatten the profession’s diversity and can alienate colleagues. They urge intentional, respectful language and highlight ASCLS efforts that foster community, emphasizing that…
Volume 39 Number 6 | December 2025 Summary The author, a data-driven perfectionist, shares why discussing DEIB feels uncomfortable yet essential. Drawing on veterinary and clinical laboratory experience, she argues that growth requires practice, safe spaces, and grace for mistakes. She proposes using structured methods like SOAP to improve DEIB communication and metrics within ASCLS,…