Physician office laboratory
A physician office laboratory (POL) is a physician-, partnership-, or group-maintained laboratory that performs diagnostic tests or examines specimens in order to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat a disease or impairment in a patient as part of the physician practice.[1][2] The POL shows up in primary care physician offices as well as the offices of specialists like urologists, hematologists, gynecologists, and endocrinologists. In many countries like the United States, the physician office laboratory is considered a clinical laboratory and is thus regulated by federal, state, and/or local laws affecting such laboratories.[2][3]
In early 2011, researchers estimated the worldwide market for in vitro diagnostic company sales from over 100 companies to POLs was valued at around $2.3 billion U.S.[4]
POLs in the United States
In December 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported nearly half of all CLIA-certified laboratories in the United States (120,399) were physician office laboratories.[5] However, As of December 2010[update] POLs only processed about eight percent of all clinical laboratory tests.[6]
References
- ↑ "Chapter 16 - Laboratory Services" (PDF). Medicare Claims Processing Manual. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 20 June 2013. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/clm104c16.pdf. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Physician Office Laboratory Evaluation Program (POLEP)". Wadsworth Center New York State Department of Health. http://www.wadsworth.org/labcert/polep/. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ "Physician Office Laboratories or Clinics - Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Laboratory Licensing and Registration" (PDF). California Department of Public Health. May 2008. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/lfs/Documents/POL-FAQ.pdf. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ "Healthcare Cost Worries Boost Physician Office Lab Market". Thomson Reuters. 10 February 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/idUS249575+10-Feb-2011+MW20110210. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ "Laboratories by Type of Facility" (PDF). Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. December 2013. https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/CLIA/downloads/factype.pdf. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ Carlson, Bruce (1 December 2010). "Physician Office Lab Diagnostic Market". GEN. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/physician-office-lab-diagnostic-market/3493/. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
