The Role of General Laboratory Examination Package accomplished in Private Labs in detection of subtle diseases in Iraqi population

Laboratory investigations are a medical procedure that involves testing a sample of blood, urine, or other substance from the body. Laboratory tests can help determine a diagnosis, plan treatment, check to see if treatment is working, or monitor the disease over time. A screening test tells a provider and a person more testing may be needed, and a diagnostic test gives more definite information. Each test helps a person decide how to proceed with the life (1). Early detection of subclinical diseases allows the implementation of care pathways that can slow the progression of the disease, improving clinical outlook and quality of life, as well as the avoidance of situations that might cause worsening of body functions and acute injuries, such as administration of certain drugs. This medical scrutiny is a primary preventive health measure for the early diagnosis of diseases and prevention of undue morbidity and mortality. Staying physically active and conscious about health can help prevent or delay certain diseases, including some cancers, heart diseases and diabetes (2). Much has been debated about General Laboratory Examination (GLE) in recent years which represent an exercise in preventive medicine. Those in favor of such screening of laboratory investigations point to the economic and social advantages of early detection and better diagnosis of disease to an individual and the community. The opponents of this type of blanket screening point to the dubious diagnostic value of many of the abnormal results found and the impracticability of making laboratory screening generally available even if it was shown to be of definite value (3). Despite contrary evidence, most primary care providers believe that an annual laboratory examination detects subclinical illness. This is partly driven and shaped by factors such as apparent perception of benefit, patient expectation, employer requirement, and insurance industry protocols. Healthcare institutions. Iraq do not offer structured health checkup “packages” for routine screening of common diseases. Unnecessary and inappropriate screening tests cause financial and resource burden as it must be done in private coasty labs (4)