A new door to a different world: opportunities from the metaverse and the raise of meta-medical laboratories.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In the digital age, the metaverse has emerged with impressive potential for many segments of society. The metaverse could be presented as a parallel dimension able to enhance the physical world as well as our actions and decisions in it with the objective to use a coalition between the natural and virtual worlds for value creation. Our aim was to elaborate on the impact of the metaverse on laboratory medicine. METHODS: Based on the available evidence, literature and reports, we analyzed the different perspectives of the metaverse on laboratory medicine and the needs for an efficient transition. RESULTS: The convergence and integration of technologies in the metaverse will participate to the reimagination of laboratory medicine services with augmented services, users' experiences, efficiency, and personalized care. The revolution around the metaverse offers different opportunities for laboratory medicine but also open multiple related challenges that are presented in this article. CONCLUSIONS: Scientific societies, multidisciplinary teams and specialists in laboratory medicine must prepare the integration metaverse and meta-medical laboratories, raise the awareness, educate, set guidance to obtain a maximum of value and mitigate potential adverse consequences.