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In 2023, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation decided to sunset its Choosing Wisely campaign, a popular initiative aimed at identifying and reducing duplicative or unnecessary medical tests and treatments. Because this program had such a strong, positive impact on patient care, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has chosen to continue where ABIM left off.  

ASCP recently launched a searchable, online catalog of both new and previous effective test utilization (ETU) recommendations. The catalog not only lists tests and treatments that laboratory experts no longer recommend, but it suggests alternative tests that are better choices for patient care.  

For example, under chemistry recommendations, a listing notes that when diagnosing acute myocardial infarction, “don’t test for myoglobin or CK-MB” but “instead, use troponin I or T.” The reference then goes on to explain why this is the best choice for the patient: “Approximately 30 percent of patients experiencing chest discomfort at rest with a normal CK-MB will be diagnosed with AMI when evaluated using troponins.” The reference also includes six footnotes for those who want to research the recommendation further.  

ASCP’s online catalog offers a more streamlined interface 

ASCP’s new catalog of test recommendations is a big step forward that’s more accessible and easier to use than Choosing Wisely’s previous format, says Sachin Gupta, PhD, MBA, MLS(ASCPi)MBi, LSSBB, CPHQ, Scientific Director of ASCP’s Center for Quality and Patient Safety.  

“Historically, the Effective Test Utilization (ETU) recommendations—formerly known as the Choosing Wisely recommendations—were updated annually and made available in PDF format on the ASCP website,” Dr. Gupta says. “However, this approach had notable limitations: the recommendations were not categorized by topic, requiring users to download the entire document to access specific details and references.” 

ASCP’s catalog offers a streamlined approach that’s searchable by keyword. 

“Recently, ASCP has significantly enhanced the accessibility and usability of these recommendations by revamping their ETU page,” Dr. Gupta says. “The new format offers a streamlined, searchable interface, allowing users to find recommendations more efficiently. Instead of navigating through a single PDF, users can now search by topic keyword or any relevant subject word within the recommendations. Additionally, recommendations are categorized by topic area, making the information much easier to locate and utilize.” 

The catalog’s dropdown list of topic areas includes chemistry, cytology, general lab, hematology, immunology, microbiology, molecular pathology, population health, surgical pathology, and transfusion medicine.  

ASCP’s ETU Recommendations catalog focuses on collaboration 

ASCP’s new catalog also highlights the importance of collaboration when deciding which tests and treatments are best to use and which should be put aside. 

“Another important improvement is the recognition of collaborative efforts,” Dr. Gupta says. “Recommendations developed in partnership with other societies now include special mentions, highlighting the contributing organizations. This acknowledgment adds further credibility and context, emphasizing the collaborative nature of these guidelines.” 

To keep the catalog updated and current, ASCP accepts new ETU recommendation nominations annually from pathologists and laboratory professionals (the deadline for 2025 was April 18). The ASCP Center for Quality and Patient Safety committee then reviews the submissions and selects new ETU recommendations based on specific criteria, such as how frequently the test is performed and evidence the test is harmful or not beneficial.  

ASCP’s goal is that each official new ETU recommendation will result in a higher quality of care, lower costs, and more effective use of personal and laboratory resources.  

By presenting these recommendations in the new online catalog format, ASCP hopes to guide more professionals into finding the right test for the right patient.  

“This overhaul represents a significant step forward in making ETU recommendations more accessible, user-friendly, and effective for professionals seeking evidence-based guidance in test utilization,” Dr. Gupta says.