5 Factors To Consider Before Choosing A Diagnostic Clinic

By Author: Deepak Hegde
Total Articles: 16
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When we are sick we go to a doctor and in many cases he prescribes certain tests which we must undergo. To undergo these tests we generally go to a diagnostic laboratory. But with pathology laboratories mushrooming here and there in every part of the country we must be careful about the lab we choose.

Nowadays we do find a new diagnostic clinic in almost every street. A diagnostic clinic probably opens in your area every month. A lot of these new clinics come up with attractive discounts and offers. But are all these clinics safe? Do they conduct tests in a proper manner? The answer to this is that not all clinics are certified and a few of them may not even have proper trained pathologists to conduct the tests. There are certain things you must consider before opting for a diagnostic clinic. The 5 most important factors have been listed below:

1.Before you choose a pathology laboratory you must assure that it is certified and has an accreditation. In India it should be CAP or NABL accredited. If it is not then it is better that you stay away from it. But if the diagnostic centre is a small one, chances are that ...
... though it is genuine it is not accredited. In such cases you may speak to the doctor in charge to assure that that the place has all required equipment in place.

2.It is always better to opt for the diagnostic clinic suggested by your doctor. This is because your doctor knows that the diagnostic clinic he has referred you to is a proper one with trained staff and appropriate equipments.

3.Before you zero down on a pathological laboratory make sure that you enquire about the equipments being used. Make sure that they use modernequipment while conducting tests and not outdated ones, as the results are more accurate if the instruments are latest.

4.The person who scrutinizes the test results and prepares the reports must be a certified pathologist. If a diagnostic laboratory does not have a proper pathologist,chances are that its reports will be inaccurate and of little use.

5.Nowadays most pathology laboratories are fully computerized so, it is always better to opt for a more advanced and modern lab than an outdated one.

You are paying for the tests that you get done, thus ensure that you find a credible diagnostic laboratoryso that you don’t waste money and do not face the hassle of complications in your health due to wrong diagnosis.

Deepak Hegde is an MBBS student, studying in a Chennai-based medical college. He understands well the role that a diagnostic clinic plays, and wishes to share his information about the same. He also wants to inform you about the various services offered by a pathology lab.