Turnaround times for reports on uncomplicated biopsies in five major anatomical pathology laboratories in NSW, Australia.

This paper reports on the findings of a 1997 survey of the turnaround times (TATs) of small, uncomplicated biopsies performed in five major anatomical pathology (AP) departments in NSW over a period of four weeks. A comparative analysis of the performance of the departments shows that in the majority of cases the standard of two working days between specimen receipt and availability for dispatch after verification (as proposed by the College of American Pathologists) is met. This is within the two working days of the Clinical Indicator of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Notwithstanding the apparent adequacy of this result, there is an emerging-although still a minority-view in which it is suggested that the TAT between specimen accession and verification of reports for uncomplicated cases should be one day. This more stringent benchmark is readily achievable, as is demonstrated in the results obtained. In this study a one day TAT was obtained in 73.4% of cases.