Preanalytical venous blood sampling practices demand improvement--a survey of test-request management, test-tube labelling and information search procedures.
BACKGROUND
Most errors in laboratory medicine are preanalytical in nature. In the present study, we aimed to survey preanalytical steps in venous blood sampling, prior to actual sample collection. These steps included test-request management and test-tube labelling, as well as information search procedures.


METHODS
Venous blood sampling staff (n=314, response rate 94%) in hospital wards and laboratories completed a questionnaire related to clinical chemistry testing.


RESULTS
Instructions for test-request management and test-tube labelling were not always followed. For example, only 66% of the ward staff reported always checking the test-request if someone else completed it, compared to 90% of the laboratory staff (p=0.003). As few as 16% of the ward staff reported desirable practices regarding test-tube labelling, compared to 100% of the laboratory staff (p<0.001). Furthermore, 18% of the ward staff reported always using online manuals (the only source of updated information), compared to 63% of the laboratory staff (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate a substantial risk of preanalytical error in test-request management, test-tube labelling, and information search practices, particularly in the wards. Our findings thus underscore the importance of quality control in venous blood sampling, in order to increase patient safety in modern health care.
Wallin
Olof
O
Department of Medical Biosciences, Clinical Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. olof.wallin@medbio.umu.se
Söderberg
Johan
J
Van Guelpen
Bethany
B
Stenlund
Hans
H
Grankvist
Kjell
K
Brulin
Christine
C
D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018962:Phlebotomy; D011786:Quality Control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires