title: Quality improvement in laboratory medicine: extra-analytical issues.
abstract: This article addresses sources of error in the pre- and postanalytic phases of the testing cycle, using the collection of blood specimens as a paradigm for quality improvement in these phases of testing. The article focuses on appropriateness of the test request, patient and sample identification, criteria for acceptance and rejection of specimens, and the communication and interpretation of results.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale Scuro, Verona, Italy. giuseppe.lippi@univr.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fostini
authors.forename: Gian Cesare
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guidi
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*