Abstract
Phlebotomy, the act of drawing blood through venepuncture, is one of the most common medical procedures in healthcare, as well as being a basis for diagnosis and treatment. A review of the available research has highlighted the dearth of information on the phlebotomy practice in Africa. Several studies elsewhere have shown that the pre-analytical phase (patient preparation, specimen collection and identification, transportation, preparation for analysis and storage) is the most error-prone process in laboratory medicine. The validity of any laboratory test result hinges on specimen quality; thus, as the push for laboratory quality improvement in Africa gathers momentum, the practice of phlebotomy should be subjected to critical appraisal. This article offers several suggestions for the improvement of phlebotomy in Africa.
Highlights
Medical laboratory services, despite playing a pivotal role in Africa’s healthcare system, have suffered gross neglect for decades.[1,2] Government investment in laboratories is often inadequate, resulting in substandard laboratory infrastructure; poorly-trained and unmotivated staff; and a limited scope of testing services
It is widely understood that insufficient investment in the laboratory can have a negative effect on the quality of testing services, impacting the overall quality of healthcare
In 2009, the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and partners launched the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) to help laboratories in resource-limited settings strive toward international accreditation.[3,4]
Summary
Despite playing a pivotal role in Africa’s healthcare system, have suffered gross neglect for decades.[1,2] Government investment in laboratories is often inadequate, resulting in substandard laboratory infrastructure; poorly-trained and unmotivated staff; and a limited scope of testing services. Accurate and precise laboratory test results depend on properly-performed phlebotomy in order to obtain high-quality specimens.
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