title: A retrospective analysis of the incidence of hemolysis in type and screen specimens from trauma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemolysis of blood samples has been a concern in hospitals. Currently, residents and nurses have replaced traditional teams of skilled phlebotomists for both routine and 'stat' blood draws. Although this leads to a decreased operating cost for institutions, the lack of skill and experience leads to a higher percentage of hemolyzed specimens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of hemolyzed 'type and screen' blood samples at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) (New York, USA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 615 consecutive trauma patients at SIUH between July 2006 and June 2007. Patients were treated according to the Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol. The primary survey for a trauma patient consists of 'airway', 'breathing' and 'circulation'. The primary objective of 'circulation' is to establish vascular access and collect blood samples for analysis. The SIUH in-house laboratory provided all of the reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 615 samples collected, 155 samples (25.2%) were hemolyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hemolysis rate of 25.2% for type and screen samples is higher than previously reported in the literature. The data suggest that the high rate of hemolysis in these trauma patients is due to the residents' lack of experience and skills required to obtain an adequate blood draw.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset;
authors.forename: Kavin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Idrovo
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicastro
authors.forename: Heather F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McMullen
authors.forename: Ernesto P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Molmenti
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppa