title: Disposables as sources of preanalytical contamination and misdiagnosis.
abstract: Laboratory samples from two different patients produced false-positive results. Investigations indicated that the errors were produced by a combination of miniscule preanalytical contamination of disposables, suboptimal systems design, and very sensitive analytical systems. The errors may be avoidable by changing the configuration of workstations.
authors.affiliation: Baltimore Rh Typing Laboratory, Maryland 21215, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wenk
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000592:standards*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine