Clinical Laboratory Advocacy Essay Assignment: Developing a Reasoned Argument Using Professional Society Evidence

Writing a persuasive clinical laboratory science advocacy essay that evaluates professional society positions, regulatory debates, and evidence-based arguments helps students develop the analytical skills required for laboratory leadership, policy engagement, and professional practice.

Professional advocacy in clinical laboratory science often shapes regulatory decisions, workforce standards, and patient safety initiatives across healthcare systems. Laboratory professionals frequently rely on policy statements from organizations such as ASCLS or ASCP when evaluating legislation related to staffing requirements or certification standards. Evidence drawn from these professional societies may demonstrate how laboratory expertise contributes to accurate diagnostic testing and improved clinical outcomes. Many policy discussions in laboratory medicine also highlight workforce shortages and the need for stronger accreditation and training pipelines. Research examining the clinical laboratory workforce suggests that shortages of trained laboratory professionals continue to affect hospital diagnostic capacity and public health surveillance (Garcia et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqz046). A well-constructed advocacy essay therefore combines policy analysis, scientific evidence, and professional perspectives to support a clear position.

Arguments in laboratory policy debates rarely exist without criticism or competing viewpoints. Critics may question the cost of regulatory reforms or argue that workforce shortages could be addressed through automation rather than expanded professional standards. Careful evaluation of opposing views allows the writer to demonstrate intellectual fairness while also strengthening the primary argument. Laboratory organizations frequently publish advocacy materials that explain the rationale behind their policy recommendations, which can serve as valuable evidence in academic writing. Drawing from such materials may help students connect theoretical policy debates to real healthcare systems and regulatory structures.

Assignment Instructions

You need to provide a reasoned argument for your opinion using evidence to support your opinion, including addressing the opposing view and or drawbacks (cons) of the issue or topic. Academic argumentation requires careful evaluation of credible evidence and acknowledgement of competing perspectives in healthcare policy discussions.

An excellent starting point is visiting the various professional societies of laboratory professionals and laboratory education accrediting agencies. Many of these organizations publish advocacy resources that discuss regulatory developments affecting laboratory medicine and diagnostic testing.

Look for sections called Advocacy, Political Action, Regulation, Legislative Issues, etc. These sections often provide policy briefs, position statements, and legislative updates that may serve as credible sources for your essay.

Below is a list of some laboratory professional societies. Professional organizations frequently publish guidance on clinical standards, workforce development, and policy initiatives affecting diagnostic laboratories.

• American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA)
• American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM), formerly known as the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• American Medical Technologist (AMT)
• Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB)
• American Society of Hematology (ASH)
• National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)

Professional societies such as these often advocate for laboratory workforce development, regulatory oversight of diagnostic testing, and improvements in patient safety practices.

You must cite at least four references in the paper. Academic research papers in health sciences typically integrate scholarly articles, policy statements, and professional guidelines.

Two of the references must be from the resources provided to you in the instructions for your selected topic. Course materials frequently include curated readings that introduce key debates in laboratory regulation or professional practice.

See points 6 or 7 below for links to the instructions for each topic. Reviewing the topic instructions carefully may help ensure that selected sources address the intended policy or scientific issue.

Two of the references must be references (articles) you have identified. Peer reviewed journal articles in laboratory medicine, healthcare policy, or public health often provide useful empirical evidence.

References must be from the past 10 years. Recent research may reflect current regulatory developments, technological changes in laboratory diagnostics, and workforce trends.

Educational program websites (e.g., UNMC’s MLS program website) and Wikipedia are not acceptable sources for your two additional resources (articles). Scholarly journal databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and institutional library resources typically provide more reliable academic sources.

 Academic References

• Garcia, E., Kundu, I., Kelly, M., Soles, R., Mulder, L., & Talmon, G. (2019). The American Society for Clinical Pathology’s job market survey of medical laboratory professionals. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqz046
• Plebani, M. (2020). Errors in clinical laboratories or errors in laboratory medicine. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2019-1013
• Vollmer, L., & Cousins, D. (2021). Diagnostic stewardship and patient safety in laboratory medicine. BMJ Quality & Safety. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012244
• Ramanan, P., & Bryson, A. (2022). The evolving role of clinical laboratories in healthcare systems. Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/jalm/jfac029
• U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2021). Clinical laboratory workforce shortages and training challenges. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-283

Assignment

MLS 410: Clinical Laboratory Policy Discussion Post

Course Activity: Discussion Post – Evaluating Laboratory Regulation and Workforce Policy

Students will write a 300 to 500 word discussion post examining a recent policy issue affecting clinical laboratories, such as workforce shortages, laboratory developed test regulation, or diagnostic stewardship initiatives. The discussion should reference at least one professional society statement and one scholarly source. Students will also respond to two classmates by evaluating the strengths or weaknesses of their arguments using evidence from laboratory policy literature. Participation should demonstrate familiarity with professional advocacy debates in laboratory medicine.