29 THE ANTISEPTIC Vol. 115 • January 2018

general

Introduction

Laboratory error can be defined as any error made by the personnel in a clinical laboratory in performing test, interpreting data, or reporting or recording the results. As laboratory results play an imperative role in diagnostic and prognostic aspects, a high validity and reliability of laboratory results are expected as precondition for the proper clinical medicine1. Laboratory testing is a highly complex process and although laboratory services are relatively safe, - they are not safe, unless the effective measures are taken for proper quality assessment. Clinical laboratories have evidenced drastic changes due to the advancement in the diagnostic technologies, instrumentations, automations and micro-chip based quality control methodologies2,3. Clinical laboratories have focussed their attention on quality control methods and quality assessment

Common Clinical Laboratory Errors and Methods of their Elimination : An OverviewNataraja thamizh Selvam

Dr. N. Thamizh Selvam M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.,Assistant Director (Scientist-II) - BiochemistryNational Ayurveda Research Institute for Panchakarma(CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India)Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur, Kerala- 679 531

Specially Contributed to "The Antiseptic" Vol. 115 No. 1 & P : 29 - 31

abstract

Laboratory tests play an important role in the present day health care system. Laboratory tests take place in a complex environment due to the introduction of advanced detecting methodologies, information technology and the increasing automation. However, such complexity also poses problems for clinical laboratories, physicians and patients when it has not been updated and maintained properly. Even though, the low incidence of errors reported, compared to the large number of laboratory tests daily performed in the world, they have greater implications in safety of the patients. The present article discusses about some common laboratory errors and scientific suggestions for overcoming or eliminating of such errors. Key words: Laboratory errors, Pre-analytical errors, Post-analytical errors, Quality assurance

programmes with respect to analytical aspects of testing. The recent studies on errors in laboratory medicine suggest that in the delivery of laboratory testing, mistakes occur more frequently on pre-analytical aspects (before initiating of laboratory test) and post-analytical aspects (documenting and reporting)4,5,6. The present article describes the nature and types of errors commonly occur in the clinical laboratories and the solution for overcoming of the errors.

laboratory testing process

The laboratory tests are very crucial as they involve in the process of disease diagnosis, screening, treatment and prognosis aspects. The testing process in the clinical laboratory is comprised of three major steps such as Pre- analytical step, Analytical step and Post-analytical step7.Pre-analytical Phase:

This step involves regarding the request of the test details, patient and specimen identification,

Fig. 2. role of laboratory investigations in Health care

system

Fig.1. laboratory testing Process in common clinical laboratories.