Naslov
Quality indicators in the pre-analytical phase

Autori
Šimundić, Ana-Maria

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, pp prezentacija, znanstveni

Skup
International conference on laboratory medicine: DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS AND QUALITY INDICATORS IN LABORATORY MEDICINE

Mjesto i datum
Padova, Italija, 25.10.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
preanalytical phase; quality indicators

Sažetak
The key goal of implementing the Total Quality Management in medical laboratories is to provide its customers (patients, physicians, nurses, clinical staff etc.) with products and services that fully meet their needs. Basic feature of such systems is the concept of continuous quality improvement and implementation of quality indicators. Quality indicators are objective and measurable indicators of the quality of a system. It is very important that quality indicators address all three key processes in the laboratory: preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical. Quality indicators in the preanalytical phase of the laboratory testing may quantify the number of erroneous requests, errors in patient identification, test order (in)appropriateness, inadequate sample (hemolytic, lypemic, clotted etc.), missing sample (sample lost or not received), needle stick injuries etc. Some authors have even suggested the hemolysis index as a measure of the quality of preanalytical phase. When implementing quality indicators, there are many issues to be addressed, such as: what exactly will be measured, can the data be collected and analyzed easily, how and when are indicators going to be reported, are acceptance limits for the indicator known, what is the meaning of one bad result etc. Unfortunately, there is still no universal agreement on the core set of quality indicators for preanalytical phase. Several professional bodies, such as IFCC Working group on Laboratory errors and patient safety (WG-LEPS) and EFLM Working group on Preanalytical phase (WG-PA) are currently working on the harmonization of the use of the preanalytical quality indicators. Until such agreement has been reached, each laboratory needs to define its own indicators and way to implement it into its quality system.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA