A Lab is an organized group of people with access to state of the art facilities and equipment investigating a specific issue. Some examples of activities that usually have a Lab: health care, law enforcement, forensics, basic research, intelligence, computation, therapeutics, environment…and interests out as far as the universe.  A Lab is integral to many activities. 

Key words that describe a lab:

• Organized Group

• People 

• State of the art facilities

• State of the art equipment

• Investigation

• Specific Goal

Key words describing the people affiliated with Labs: 

• Educated

• Dedicated

• Committed 

• Adaptable

• Motivated

• Team Oriented

• Goal Oriented

One does not walk in one day to apply for employment in a Lab.  One prepares with years/decades of education, experience learning how to work with others as a team, learning how to ask appropriate questions, and learning state of the art technology that will most likely to be adapted to a new purpose to address a new question the equipment was not originally intended for; that is called opening new fields of investigation.  And, one won’t be hired unless you can demonstrate commitment, focus, and perseverance.  

The essence of A Lab is people, a focused Objective, and adequate space and equipment to succeed.

For the purpose of this blog, I shall limit my observation, opinions, and stories to the clinical lab, that enterprise focused on supporting clinical practice usually located in a hospital or clinic.  The most important issue is still PEOPLE and GOAL!

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