Clinical laboratory tests are the scientific basis for the diagnosis and management of diseases. In addition to the traditional areas of laboratory testing, including clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and transfusion medicine, genetic testing is also broadening its role in the clinical laboratory field. While many new research procedures and analytical methods are becoming available, they all should be strictly validated before being adopted in the clinical practice as routine assays. Clinical laboratories have an important role to play in this translational process from bench to bedside.