Reference laboratories offer a wider array of laboratory tests than smaller and mid-sized hospital laboratories. Clinical laboratories may send tests to reference laboratories because it is more cost-effective; reference laboratories have the equipment or supplies needed for the testing that is infrequently ordered in clinical laboratories.
Large hospital laboratories sometimes act as reference laboratories within their hospital network. Most often, however, reference laboratories are independent companies. Examples include LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, and ARUP.
