DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRE ANALYTICAL ERRORS IN CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY LAB OF OSMANIA GENERAL HOSPITAL AND HOW TO MINIMIZE THEM.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:To study different types of pre-analytical errors in clinical biochemistry lab and how to minimize them. METHODOLOGY: An observational study was done at Department of Biochemistry , Osmania General Hospital for a period of 2 months from Aug 2020-Sep 2020.During this phase different types of errors were monitored. RESULTS: During a period of 2 months ,10000 samples were analyzed and among them 400 were found to be having an error. i.e. 4%. Among them Hemolyzed samples (37.5%), Lipemic samples(25%), Misidentification of samples(15%), Insufficient volume(12.5%) and Sample mixing (10%). CONCLUSION: Proper training to nursing staff and phlebotomist regarding use of vacutainer needles instead of syringes and time of collection of samples reduces the error of hemolysis and lipemia.Use of Barcode labels reduces the error of misidentification. Proper education regarding volume of blood to be collected and use of correct vacutainers reduces the error of insufficient volume and sample mixing.