title: Analysis of turnaround times in pathology: an approach using failure time analysis.
abstract: This article introduces the use of failure time analysis methods for studying turnaround times in pathology. The key to understanding the approach is to view a laboratory specimen like a living patient. When the specimen enters the laboratory, the time is analogous to the time of diagnosis for a patient. When the specimen's analysis is completed, the event is analogous to a patient who has died. To illustrate the approach, I use data previously published and data generated at the Durham, NC, Veterans Affairs Medical Center. I demonstrate that the Kaplan-Meier plotting method, the log-rank test, and the Cox model can all be applied to turnaround times and provide useful results.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
authors.forename: Robin T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Vollmer
mesh_terms: D004526:Efficiency; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D017748:Time Management