Centralization versus Decentralization of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Services: One More Choice To Make During a Global Pandemic

The delivery of diagnostic laboratory services has undergone significant change in recent years. Specifically, clinical microbiology laboratories are being asked to become more efficient and to utilize health care dollars more effectively while still providing the highest level of care for patients and meeting the needs of health care providers. In some cases, this has led to the need to centralize and consolidate the clinical microbiology laboratory. Here, we discuss the key points to consider surrounding centralization and consolidation of microbiology services during these uncertain times, many of which we have encountered ourselves. We present a methodical approach to assess the factors associated with consolidation, including topics related to management of the microbiology laboratory and ensuring that quality patient care stays at the center of the decision-making process, all while maintaining efficiency and compliance with regulatory guidelines.