ABSTRACT
The advent of modern instrumentation, with associated improvements in test reliability,
together with appropriate internal quality control and external quality assurance
measures, has led to substantial reduction in analytical errors within hemostasis
laboratories. Unfortunately, the reporting of incorrect or inappropriate test results
still occurs, perhaps even as frequently as in the past. Many of these cases will
arise due to a variety of events largely outside the control of the laboratories performing
the laboratory tests and primarily comprise preanalytical events related to patient
collection and sample processing and postanalytical events related to the reporting
and interpretation of test results. The current article provides an overview of these
events and provides some suggestions on how they can be minimized or prevented to
ensure that the test results the clinician receives actually represent the true clinical
status of the patient under investigation rather than just reflecting the status of
an (inappropriate) clinical sample received and tested. This article should be of
interest to both laboratory scientists working in hemostasis and the clinicians that
request such tests. The former, because these are ultimately responsible for the test
results they provide to clinicians, and there is a duty of care to provide both accurate
and precise results to enable clinicians to manage patients appropriately and to avoid
the need to recollect and retest. The latter because unless clinicians gain an appreciation
of these issues, they will not be in a position to best manage their patients.
KEYWORDS
Preanalytical variables - postanalytical variables - extra-analytical variables -
diagnostic errors - hemostasis
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Emmanuel J FavaloroPh.D. M.A.I.M.S.
Department of Haematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR)
Westmead Hospital, SWAHS, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
eMail: emmanuel.favaloro@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au
