Abstract
Background:
The presence of preanalytical mistakes (PM) in samples from primary care centres (PCC) is a widely studied topic. Different correcting strategies have been proposed, with variable success. We planned a series of multidisciplinary sessions for clinical update, with the aim to decrease PM rates in samples from PCC.
Methods:
The incidence of PM in samples from PCC processed at the laboratories of University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria (LAB1) and University Hospital Juan Ramon Jimenez (LAB2) was assessed during two time periods (October to November 2013 and January to May 2014). Clinical update sessions were conducted between periods (2014). Differences in PM rates between observation periods were evaluated.
Results:
With respect to 2014, we observed a significant reduction of PM rates in blood samples processed at LAB1 during 2015, whereas those in LAB2 were slightly increased. The most common PMs were haemolysed sample at LAB1 and missed sample at LAB2.
Conclusions:
Although the presence of PM remains slightly high, there was a significant reduction after the clinical update sessions in LAB1, where the most frequent PM was haemolysed sample. In contrast, the PM rates were slightly increased at LAB2, and the main source was missed sample. This might be explained, at least in part, by different problems associated with sample transportation, and by the delay in transferring acquired knowledge into clinical practice. Implementation of regular programme of update sessions and improvements in sample transportation might help to reduce the PM presence in our area.
Acknowledgments
Authors wish to thank to Prof. Dr. M Muñoz for his collaboration in the translation and revision of the manuscript.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This study was supported by grants from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS 12/1099), Ministry of Health and Social Policies (Spain), and the European Union (FEDER).
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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Articles in the same Issue
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- Editorial
- High-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponins – continued
- Reviews
- The 99th percentile of reference population for cTnI and cTnT assay: methodology, pathophysiology and clinical implications
- Vitamin B1 in critically ill patients: needs and challenges
- Opinion Papers
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- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin: do think twice, it’s not all right
- Counterpoint
- Terminology of cardiac troponin assays and data censoring
- Establishing consensus-based, assay-specific 99th percentile upper reference limits to facilitate proper utilization of cardiac troponin measurements
- Fast track protocols using highly sensitive troponin assays for ruling out and ruling in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome
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- Relationship between polymorphisms in the CRP, LEP and LEPR genes and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in Spanish children
- General Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
- An approach for estimating measurement uncertainty in medical laboratories using data from long-term quality control and external quality assessment schemes
- Selecting multi-rule quality control procedures based on patient risk
- Moving sum of number of positive patient result as a quality control tool
- Multidisciplinary training activities for decreasing preanalytical mistakes in samples from primary care
- Harmonization protocols for TSH immunoassays: a multicenter study in Italy
- Circulating free light chain measurement in the diagnosis, prognostic assessment and evaluation of response of AL amyloidosis: comparison of Freelite and N latex FLC assays
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- Congress Abstracts
- 49th National Congress of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC – Laboratory Medicine)
- Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- High-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponins – continued
- Reviews
- The 99th percentile of reference population for cTnI and cTnT assay: methodology, pathophysiology and clinical implications
- Vitamin B1 in critically ill patients: needs and challenges
- Opinion Papers
- Point
- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin: do think twice, it’s not all right
- Counterpoint
- Terminology of cardiac troponin assays and data censoring
- Establishing consensus-based, assay-specific 99th percentile upper reference limits to facilitate proper utilization of cardiac troponin measurements
- Fast track protocols using highly sensitive troponin assays for ruling out and ruling in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome
- Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics
- Relationship between polymorphisms in the CRP, LEP and LEPR genes and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in Spanish children
- General Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
- An approach for estimating measurement uncertainty in medical laboratories using data from long-term quality control and external quality assessment schemes
- Selecting multi-rule quality control procedures based on patient risk
- Moving sum of number of positive patient result as a quality control tool
- Multidisciplinary training activities for decreasing preanalytical mistakes in samples from primary care
- Harmonization protocols for TSH immunoassays: a multicenter study in Italy
- Circulating free light chain measurement in the diagnosis, prognostic assessment and evaluation of response of AL amyloidosis: comparison of Freelite and N latex FLC assays
- Serum prolactin revisited: parametric reference intervals and cross platform evaluation of polyethylene glycol precipitation-based methods for discrimination between hyperprolactinemia and macroprolactinemia
- Temporal and regional variability in the request of vitamin D from general practitioners in Spain
- Fibrinogen determination according to Clauss: commutability assessment of International and commercial standards and quality control samples
- Reference Values and Biological Variations
- S100B maternal blood levels are gestational age- and gender-dependent in healthy pregnancies
- Gestational age-specific reference intervals for serum thyroid hormone levels in a multi-ethnic population
- Cancer Diagnostics
- Serum complexed and free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for the diagnosis of the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- A new immunochemistry platform for a guideline-compliant cardiac troponin T assay at the point of care: proof of principle
- Diabetes
- Adiponectin and leptin as first trimester markers for gestational diabetes mellitus: a cohort study
- Letters to the Editor
- Can we still trust hemoglobin A1c in all situations?
- Automated detection of unstable hemoglobin variants by Sysmex XE-Series analyzers
- Mean hemoglobin concentrations in fasting venous and non-fasting capillary blood of Cambodian women using a hemoglobinometer and an automated hematology analyzer
- Evaluation of a POCT device for C-reactive protein, hematocrit and leukocyte differential
- New perspectives on existing data in comparative measurements: a simple extension of the regression analysis
- Evaluation of a human anti-mouse antibody rapid test for patients requiring radio-immunodiagnostic
- The cortisol-CBG ratio affects cortisol immunoassay bias at elevated CBG concentrations
- Prognostic value of total antioxidant capacity to predict functional outcome in traumatic brain injury patients
- Use of IFCC guidelines to verify acetylcholinesterase reference interval in adults determined with ChE check mobile testing system
- Congress Abstracts
- 49th National Congress of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (SIBioC – Laboratory Medicine)
- Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine