Artificial intelligence: A transformative role in clinical laboratory

Every industry is experiencing a surge in technological innovation. Expert systems, facial recognition, language translation, chatbots, health trackers, mobile phone applications, robotic surgery, etc., have all progressively become a part of our everyday lives. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in laboratory medicine and healthcare systems. Digitalization of laboratories generates huge electronic health records data. These data are processed and meaningfully interpreted by AI algorithms, thus potentially enhancing the speed and accuracy of diagnosis, clinical decision-making, illness monitoring, patient care, and patient safety. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to write this review article, including databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This review article focuses on the introduction of AI and machine learning, the interpretation of huge laboratory data, the ability to spot patterns, and their applications in routine biochemistry clinical laboratories. Technology although very beneficial also provides critical threats to patients’ privacy, safety, ethics, and opportunities for employment. The study also highlights the various challenges faced by developing countries such as inadequate data availability, digital infrastructure deficiencies, and unavailability of trained and technical staff. The article envisions the future of clinical biochemistry laboratories that will employ these methods to make significant perfections in efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.