Environmental sustainability of clinical laboratories: A scoping review.

This article focuses on a scoping review of research assessing the environmental impact of clinical laboratories and interventions aimed at mitigating this impact. The review identified 43 primary studies, predominantly from high-income countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, with most published in the last decade. Studies varied widely in methodology and outcomes, commonly measuring laboratory waste in kilograms and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions, but showed limited interconnectivity and standardization. Intervention studies remain few and diverse, addressing waste reduction, energy efficiency, and operational changes. The review concludes that establishing standardized, repeatable assessments—particularly at the level of individual laboratory tests—is essential for developing reliable baselines and effective sustainability interventions in clinical laboratories globally.