errors in clinical laboratory

1
Errors in clinical laboratories
2
Semester seven

• Clinical chemistry

3
Introduction

• What is Laboratory Error?
• Laboratory error is an occurrence or an event
  that has a negative impact on Laboratory, which
  includes personnel, product, equipment, or the
  environment.

4
Three phases of laboratory errors

• Pre-analyticalspecimen collection, transport and
  processing
• Analyticaltesting
• Post-analyticaltesting results transmission,
  interpretation, follow-up, retesting.

5
The Pre-Analytical cause

• Miss-Patient Identification
• Miss-Sampling Technique
• Miss-Test Collection Procedures
• Miss-Specimen Transport
• Miss-Specimen Processing

6
Error Prevention

• Phlebotomy Education
• Phlebotomists should have completed a standard
  training under the supervision of a senior
  phlebotomist
• Phlebotomy Staffing
• Adequate staffing to maintain collection
  standards

7
(No Transcript)
8
Common laboratory errors

• Mis interpretation because sample timing was
  incorrect
• Wrong tests requested
• Wrong patient
• Mislabeling
• Poor Transport (time, temperature)
• Wrong test ordered Patient not prepared properly

9
Analyticaltesting

• Examples
• incorrect timing of test
• results reported when control
  results out of
  range
• improper dilution and pipetting of sample or
  reagents
• reagents stored inappropriately or used after
• expiration date

10
Post-Analytical

• The common errors in this phase are wrong
  validation, delayed results, results not reported
  or reported to wrong providers, incorrect results
  reported because of post analytical data entry
  errors and transcription errors.
• Examples
• transcription error in reporting
  
• report illegible
• report sent to the wrong location
• report not sent

11
Summary

• Pre- and post-analytical errors are estimated to
  constitute 90 of errors
• Errors at any stage of the collection, testing
  and reporting process can potentially lead to a
  serious patient misdiagnosis
• Errors during the collection process are not
  inevitable but can be prevented with a diligent
  application of quality control, continuing
  education and effective collection systems.