Specimen transport audit.
A specimen transport audit was performed at a routine and reference laboratory. Over the survey period (1986-89) the percentage of specimens received and assessed as hazardous (inadequately packed, misidentified, or contaminated by leakage) fell significantly from 12.0 to 2.8%. Specimen transport audit identified technical and logistical faults associated with sample transmission. It is concluded that no type of hazard should exceed 0.5% of samples, with the total being less than 1% of specimens received. Specimen transport audit is an additional laboratory performance indicator.
Royal Air Force, Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
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Garner
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Masterton
D004739:England; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D008485:Medical Audit; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*; D014186:Transportation