Turnaround times of laboratory tests for emergency room (ER) patients, from specimen collection to result reporting, were analyzed and compared. Intervals of process times by laboratory test equipment were assessed, as well as ER patient waiting times. The average turnaround time for all tests was 57 minutes, compared with the average time a patient spent in the ER of 195 minutes. The shortest average turnaround was ten minutes for separate (discrete) analysis of blood gases, while the longest was 86 minutes for serum electrolytes, glucose, and urea nitrogen performed on a sequential analyzer. Discrete analyzers, a laboratory computer system, individual test ordering, adequate communication of clinical data and physician needs to the laboratory, input from emergency personnel to laboratory personnel, and a “STAT lab” are mechanisms that could shorten waiting and turnaround times.