The critical shortage of clinical laboratory scientists indicates an urgency for planning for the future. A three-round Delphi study explored the future of the laboratory profession as predicted by a panel of experts. Twenty-four nationally known authorities in the field responded to the statement "As I consider the next 20 years of clinical laboratory science as a profession, I believe that the following events might occur." Round One generated more than 200 events. The events for which consensus was eventually achieved in the third round led to scenarios of the future of the clinical...