The mean abnormal result rate (MARR) has recently been advanced as a metric of laboratory test appropriateness. We used the MARR metric to examine patterns of change in family physician test requisitions over time.
We accessed the Laboratory Information System of Calgary Laboratory Services for family physician-ordered testing on outpatients to gather aggregate test and abnormal result counts from 2010 to 2015.
Over the 6 years, there was an annual average of 3,401,553 tests for 411,295 distinct patients on their first test requisition for the year. The MARR increased from 8.1% to 9.0% through this period.
The MARR for Calgary and surrounding area gives tentative evidence of a gradual increase in physician test selectivity in recent years. Further data from other catchment areas are needed before making assertions about broader trends in physician awareness of laboratory resource use.