Greening the lab: Creation of a national playbook on environmental sustainability in lab medicine

IF 2.1 3区医学 Q2 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

Clinical biochemistry Pub Date : 2025-06-28 DOI:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2025.110963

Launny Lowden , Christine Henderson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Climate change is the greatest threat to the health of future generations, yet the healthcare system is a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Clinical laboratories drive much of this impact due to the high volume of testing, reliance on consumables, and energy requirements of modern labs. Labs are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Reducing environmental impacts and improving climate change resilience can lead to cost savings, enhanced staff engagement, and better patient care.

Methods

Limited guidance is available for medical laboratories seeking to improve environmental sustainability. Through review of existing literature, consultation with experts, and collaboration with experienced labs, a CASCADES playbook has been developed to offer evidence-based direction for implementing high-quality, low-carbon lab practices.

Results

The Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Clinical Laboratories playbook captures a snapshot of the current state of environmental considerations in lab medicine as they start to become formalized. Recommendations regarding appropriate testing, energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing waste, and reducing water use are put forward, as well as suggestions concerning green chemistry and procurement. Tools and resources for implementation are provided. Labs are encouraged to be a voice for change, advancing a culture of sustainability within their institutions.

Conclusions

Incorporating sustainable principles into lab operations, testing algorithms, and climate-resilient laboratory design will allow the continued practice of lab medicine in a manner that considers planetary health an equal priority to individual patient health. There is a new vision for medicine: quality care must include protection of the patient’s climate, providing care in the here and now while enabling care in the future.

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绿化实验室：创建实验室医学环境可持续性的国家剧本。

气候变化是对子孙后代健康的最大威胁，而卫生保健系统是造成环境退化的一个重要因素。由于测试量大、对耗材的依赖以及现代实验室的能源需求，临床实验室在很大程度上推动了这种影响。实验室也容易受到气候变化的影响。减少环境影响和提高气候变化适应能力可以节省成本，提高员工敬业度，改善患者护理。方法：对寻求改善环境可持续性的医学实验室提供有限的指导。通过对现有文献的回顾、与专家的咨询以及与经验丰富的实验室的合作，我们制定了一本CASCADES手册，为实施高质量、低碳的实验室实践提供了循证指导。结果：将环境可持续性纳入临床实验室剧本捕获了实验室医学中环境考虑的当前状态的快照，因为它们开始变得形式化。就适当的测试、能源使用、减少温室气体排放、废物管理和减少用水提出建议，并就绿色化学和采购提出建议。为实现提供了工具和资源。实验室被鼓励成为变革的声音，在其机构内推进可持续发展的文化。结论：将可持续原则纳入实验室操作、测试算法和适应气候变化的实验室设计，将使实验室医学的持续实践以一种将地球健康与个体患者健康同等优先的方式进行。医学有了新的愿景：高质量的护理必须包括保护患者的气候，在此时此地提供护理，同时为未来提供护理。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical biochemistry 医学-医学实验技术

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

151

审稿时长

25 days

期刊介绍： Clinical Biochemistry publishes articles relating to clinical chemistry, molecular biology and genetics, therapeutic drug monitoring and toxicology, laboratory immunology and laboratory medicine in general, with the focus on analytical and clinical investigation of laboratory tests in humans used for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and therapy, and monitoring of disease.