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Publicly Available Published by De Gruyter April 26, 2011

Preanalytical quality improvement: from dream to reality

  • Giuseppe Lippi EMAIL logo , Jeffrey J. Chance , Stephen Church , Paola Dazzi , Rossana Fontana , Davide Giavarina , Kjell Grankvist , Wim Huisman , Timo Kouri , Vladimir Palicka , Mario Plebani , Vincenzo Puro , Gian Luca Salvagno , Sverre Sandberg , Ken Sikaris , Ian Watson , Ana K. Stankovic and Ana-Maria Simundic

Abstract

Laboratory diagnostics (i.e., the total testing process) develops conventionally through a virtual loop, originally referred to as “the brain to brain cycle” by George Lundberg. Throughout this complex cycle, there is an inherent possibility that a mistake might occur. According to reliable data, preanalytical errors still account for nearly 60%–70% of all problems occurring in laboratory diagnostics, most of them attributable to mishandling procedures during collection, handling, preparing or storing the specimens. Although most of these would be “intercepted” before inappropriate reactions are taken, in nearly one fifth of the cases they can produce inappropriate investigations and unjustifiable increase in costs, while generating inappropriate clinical decisions and causing some unfortunate circumstances. Several steps have already been undertaken to increase awareness and establish a governance of this frequently overlooked aspect of the total testing process. Standardization and monitoring preanalytical variables is of foremost importance and is associated with the most efficient and well-organized laboratories, resulting in reduced operational costs and increased revenues. As such, this article is aimed at providing readers with significant updates on the total quality management of the preanalytical phase to endeavour further improvement for patient safety throughout this phase of the total testing process.


Corresponding author: Prof. Giuseppe Lippi, U.O. Diagnostica Ematochimica, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy Phone: +39-0521-703050/703791

Received: 2011-1-28
Accepted: 2011-3-9
Published Online: 2011-04-26
Published in Print: 2011-07-01

©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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