THE GROWTH OF A LABORATORY

The growth of the laboratory work in a general and teaching hospital was studied from annual statistical returns, which gave a broad general picture for the period 1922 through 1953, and permitted a more detailed analysis for 1954 through 1964. An attempt was made to analyze the growth of work in the various laboratory departments, and to explain the changes found as far as possible. It appears that knowledge of previous changes might be used as a predictive tool for estimating future work loads. A plea is made for utilization of such studies in the design, equipment, staffing and financing of laboratory work, with the recognition that growth in this department has been and is likely to continue to be disproportionately greater than in hospital work as a whole.