BACKGROUND: Effective patient management depends on the accuracy of laboratory results. Sample collection errors constitute an important reason for repeat collections. This study was conducted at the laboratory diagnostic services of a tertiary care oncology center with a hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit to determine the common causes of sample rejections and see the effects of corrective action. METHODS: A retrospective, intervention and prospective analysis of the samples rejected from the total samples received in our laboratories, during a nine month period from January to September 2011 was undertaken. Causes of sample rejections were determined and intervention in the form of training relevant staff was instituted. RESULTS: Out of 32,548 samples received during Jan-Sep 2011, 177 samples (0.54%) were rejected. The most common reasons for rejection in hematology and biochemistry areas were clotted blood specimen (51.2%), improperly labeled specimen containers (14.46%) and hemolyzed blood samples (11.45%). For microbiology these included labeling errors, collection of specimen in wrong containers and specimen collection date and time not being entered, unacceptable specimen source and delayed transit time (18.2% each). CONCLUSIONS: Directed interventions may help reduce the incidence of sample rejections.
BACKGROUND: Effective patient management depends on the accuracy of laboratory results. Sample collection errors constitute an important reason for repeat collections. This study was conducted at the laboratory diagnostic services of a tertiary care oncology center with a hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit to determine the common causes of sample rejections and see the effects of corrective action. METHODS: A retrospective, intervention and prospective analysis of the samples rejected from the total samples received in our laboratories, during a nine month period from January to September 2011 was undertaken. Causes of sample rejections were determined and intervention in the form of training relevant staff was instituted. RESULTS: Out of 32,548 samples received during Jan-Sep 2011, 177 samples (0.54%) were rejected. The most common reasons for rejection in hematology and biochemistry areas were clotted blood specimen (51.2%), improperly labeled specimen containers (14.46%) and hemolyzed blood samples (11.45%). For microbiology these included labeling errors, collection of specimen in wrong containers and specimen collection date and time not being entered, unacceptable specimen source and delayed transit time (18.2% each). CONCLUSIONS: Directed interventions may help reduce the incidence of sample rejections.
Authors: Euan J McCaughey; Elia Vecellio; Rebecca Lake; Ling Li; Leslie Burnett; Douglas Chesher; Stephen Braye; Mark Mackay; Stephanie Gay; Tony C Badrick; Johanna I Westbrook; Andrew Georgiou Journal: Clin Biochem Rev Date: 2016-12
Authors: Paramjit Sandhu; Kakali Bandyopadhyay; Dennis J Ernst; William Hunt; Thomas H Taylor; Rebecca Birch; John Krolak; Sharon Geaghan Journal: J Appl Lab Med Date: 2017-09