The Core Function: Advanced Diagnostic Hubs
Reference laboratories are the backbone of precision medicine. While a local hospital lab focuses on rapid "STAT" testing (like a 30-minute blood sugar check for an ER patient), a reference lab focuses on complexity and depth.
By 2026, their role has expanded to include:
Esoteric Testing: Rare genetic markers, complex autoimmune panels, and specialized toxicology that require multi-million dollar equipment.
Confirmatory Testing: Serving as the "final word" when a screening test (like an initial HIV or rare pathogen screen) comes back positive or inconclusive.
Public Health Surveillance: Monitoring the spread of new viral variants and tracking antibiotic resistance patterns across large populations.
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