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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 laboratory science profession. Several significant events were forecast by the expert panel. These predictions should be of great interest to clinical laboratory educators as they prepare our future laboratorians for the evolving profession. Medical laboratory managers should also find this expert view of the future useful in their planning processes.

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Beverly A. Kirby, Ed.D., MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA): Received Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Doctorate of Education degrees from West Virginia University. Associate Professor of Medical Laboratory Science, Pathology Department, at West Virginia University.

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