Laboratory testing of patients' specimens is an integral component of patient care. Medical assistants often find a role in the clinical laboratory setting, either in the physician's office or a hospital setting. This chapter will introduce you to various types of common laboratory equipment and their use. You will learn about safety in the laboratory mandated by OSHA regulations and steps to aid in preventing accidents. A discussion of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and this law's impact on the laboratory setting is included in this chapter for your understanding of quality assurance, quality control procedures, and required record keeping.