Optimization of quality assurance to increase clinical utility and cost effectiveness of hereditary cancer testing.

Abstract

To evaluate one laboratory's hereditary cancer testing clinical quality assurance (QA) process to minimize test-ordering errors. The proportion of tests canceled/revised due to pre-analytic QA processes or provider consultation prior to test ordering were determined and the resulting health cost savings were estimated. Over 2000 genetic test orders were canceled/revised over a 1-year period due to the laboratory QA process, saving US$5,801,832 in healthcare costs. Consultation with healthcare providers prior to submitting genetic test requests resulted in 37 canceled/revised test orders in a 2-week period, which extrapolates to a savings of US$3,049,098 over 1 year. QA processes can contribute to the curtailment of healthcare costs through canceling or revising test orders.