Toward Sustainable Clinical Chemistry: Waste Quantification and Reduction Strategies from Testing on 4 Commonly Used Automated Analyzers

Our findings highlight substantial variation in waste output across platforms performing identical tests. Reducing laboratory waste will require coordinated interventions, from minimizing unnecessary test orders and optimizing sample collection to selecting low-waste analyzers and integrating sustainability into procurement policies. As high-throughput environments with well-established quality systems, clinical laboratories are well positioned to lead healthcare's broader sustainability efforts, demonstrating how operational excellence and environmental responsibility can align. Quantifying diagnostic waste is a critical first step toward integrating environmental stewardship into patient care.