engleski

Coagulation laboratory network in Republic of Croatia

Background: Laboratory coagulation tests are important components of clinical and affected outpatient management whereas lack of expertise may affect patient outcome. In 2015, a strategy is developed to evaluate the status of current practices of coagulation testing among laboratories in Republic of Croatia (RH). The first step and objective of this study was to assess coagulation laboratory network in RH. Methods: The last census of the health institutions in the RH (obtained from Ministry of Health and Croatian Institute for Health Insurance) was compared with the data on laboratories network (obtained from the Croatian Chamber of Medical Biochemists) and a list of coagulation proficiency testing participants (provided by Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine). Results: The above investigation established that at present there are 177 coagulation services, of which 11 are transfusion and 166 medical biochemistry laboratories. The type and category of institutions with associated laboratories, some of which have substations at different locations were as follows: Clinical Hospital Centers (n=5) with 9 laboratories, Clinical Hospitals (n=3) with 4 laboratories, Clinics (n=5) with 4 laboratories, General Hospitals (n=20) with 22 laboratories, Special Hospitals (n=25) with 13 laboratories and two policlinics with 2 laboratories. The majority of transfusion services are located in general hospitals (n=8). Furthermore, core laboratory services for coagulation at most general hospitals provide a comprehensive range of services both to the hospital and to the local primary care sectors. Most primary care laboratories (n=96) act within or as substation of Health Centers (n=49) and according to the lease contract are expected to perform prothrombin time only. Private laboratory medicine services (n=25) are mainly associated with small private clinics with specialized services. Conclusions: The results confirmed assumption that different types of laboratories are involved in the implementation of coagulation tests in Croatia. A full test directory and other relevant information about services provided should be available as soon as comprehensive online survey related to current practices is conducted.

coagulaiton testing; coagulation laboratory network; survey

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