The carbon footprint of pathology testing.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the carbon footprint of five common hospital pathology tests: full blood examination; urea and electrolyte levels; coagulation profile; C‐reactive protein concentration; and arterial blood gases. A prospective life cycle assessment of five pathology tests in two university‐affiliated health services in Melbourne were studied. We included all consumables and associated waste for venepuncture and laboratory analyses, and electricity and water use for laboratory analyses. The main outcome measures were greenhouse gas footprint, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions.