The degree to which critical values in anatomic pathology are understood in the nonpathology community is not know.
To measure the degree of agreement between pathologists and nonpathologists regarding critical values in anatomic pathology.
A survey containing 15 anatomic pathologic diagnoses was given to a group of pathologists and nonpathologists who were then asked to state whether they should be regarded as critical values.
Nonpathologists thought that a significantly greater percentage of diagnoses were critical than did pathologists, (49% versus 12%, P < .001). If the term critical value was changed to treatable immediately, life threatening, there was no significant difference between the responses of nonpathologists and pathologists (20% versus 12%, P  =  .06).
There is considerable disagreement between pathologists and nonpathologists concerning which diagnoses are critical values in anatomic pathology. Use of the term treatable immediately, life threatening significantly improves agreement.