Automated real-time alerts for critical lab results are recommended but still in their infancy, so the phone call remains the mainstay, the UK's pathology college advises

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Best-practice guidance from the UK's professional college for pathology. It says that, if available, pathology providers should use automated electronic systems that provide real-time rapid alerts for critical or unexpected results, and should where possible select results for urgent communication automatically; but that such alert systems are currently in their infancy, so the mainstay of communication is likely to remain direct verbal communication, in person or by telephone, between the laboratory and clinical teams — which may be done by consultant pathologists, clinical scientists, trainees or biomedical scientists. It is guidance using 'should', not a rule.

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UK best-practice guidance, not a rule; it does not measure how often results are phoned versus alerted electronically.

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