“STUDY OF PRE-ANALYTICAL ERRORS IN CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY”

Abstract

Background: Pre-analytical errors are a major concern in clinical biochemistry, accounting for approximately 60-70% of total laboratory errors. These errors occur during the pre-examination phase, from test ordering to sample analysis.

Objectives:  To  enumerate & analyze the frequency of pre-analytical errors in Clinical Biochemistry laboratory and to assess the impact hemolysis on blood glucose levels.

Materials and Methods: Results: The data reveals variations in the prevalence of pre-analytical errors across different departments. Among the departments analyzed, the highest proportion of errors is observed in the Inpatient Department, constituting 50.36% of the total errors identified. Following closely, the Critical Care Medicine department accounts for 43.13% of the errors, indicating a significant occurrence of pre-analytical errors in critical care settings. In contrast, lower frequencies of errors are noted in the Emergency Department (3.61%) and the Outpatient Department (2.89%). These findings suggest that pre-analytical errors are more predominant in inpatient and critical care settings compared to outpatient and emergency settings. Understanding the department-wise distribution of errors can aid in targeted interventions and quality improvement initiatives tailored to specific clinical areas, thereby enhancing the overall quality and reliability of laboratory testing service.

Conclusion: The research findings underscore the critical importance of pre-analytical factors in influencing laboratory testing outcomes. Analysis of pre-analytical errors revealed a range of error types, with hemolysis being the most prevalent, followed by inadequate sample volume, inappropriate tube usage, labelling errors, and clot formation in serum samples. These findings highlight the need for vigilant adherence to standardized protocols and quality control measures to mitigate errors and ensure accurate laboratory results.