Quality Management of the Pre-Analytical Phase Errors: Monitoring and Way Forward

Abstract

Inadequate quality management during laboratory analysis can increase errors, specimen rejection, and economic resources wastages. A laboratory quality management system (QMS) helps to streamline and coordinate all the processes and operations within the lab, ensuring that each step is well planned, controlled, and correctly performed. Quality management ensures that results are accurate, reliable, and obtained under a traceable process that can easily detect errors. The study aimed to investigate quality practice among laboratory workers during pre-analytical phase activities. Unexpected deviation from quality procedures consequently compromise laboratory test results, leading to patient mismanagement and patient safety risks. Analysis of results showed that 97.1% (340 respondents) were knowledgeable on quality management of pre-analytical phase, and 2.9% (10 respondents) were not. 99.1% (347respondents) agreed to availability of quality management materials and 0.9% (3 respondents) had no resources. 4.6% (16 respondents) do not practice quality management system at pre-analytical phase and 94.5% (334 respondents) practiced quality improvements. 3.4% (12 respondents) agreed that quality improvement is the responsibility of phlebotomist and field staff. 96.6% (338 respondents) agreed that quality management is the responsibility of everyone at the facility. There was maximum knowledge of quality management at the facility. Availability of quality management resources at the facility was standard. The practice of quality management was below standard. Facility requires training in quality management. It is recommended that quality management system be integrated into the curriculum of school of health technology to guide graduates at work. Keywords: Quality, Improvement, Patient, Management, System.