Abstract
Diagnostic testing is important in medical treatment but can contribute greatly to treatment charges. The five categories for rational testing are: screening, homeostatic, case finding, diagnostic, and monitoring. Unnecessary testing is common and due to multiple complex factors such as inexperience, ignorance, prior training, pressure from colleagues and patients, and fear of litigation. The consequences of abundant testing include the expenses, anxiety, pain, and phlebotomy. Strategies which have been shown to be effective in decreasing excessive lab utilization include education, peer review and audit, and administrative order changes. Multimodal strategies are most effective and should be performed with leadership support. Ultimately, the goal of reducing unnecessary laboratory utilization aligns with the goal of improving quality and value of care and also in training clinicians to engage in thoughtful, conscientious investigation.