title: Shared resource laboratories: impact of new design criteria to consolidate flow cytometry diagnostic service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Shared Resource Laboratory (SRL) model recently described for research activities would also appear to be highly suitable for diagnostic services. Using modern SRL design criteria and benchmarks, the aim of our study was to verify whether the consolidation of a diagnostic cytofluorimetric activity could improve the overall service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome indicators such as impact on analytical quality, clinical satisfaction, team work involvement, and economic performance were evaluated in the planning and setting up of a new central laboratory. Comparison with preconsolidation status allowed us to investigate possible indicators of improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 140 cytofluorimetric analyses performed before and after consolidation at the Central Laboratory in Pievesestina in north-central Italy were evaluated. The overall score of the clinical satisfaction questionnaire (range, between 1 and 5) increased from 4.3 to 4.9. Full-time equivalent (FTE) operators were reduced from 9 to 4.5 and cytofluorimeters from 6 to 2; economic indicator analyses showed a 17.75% reduction in unitary test costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adoption of new benchmarks and design criteria increased the quality of cytofluorimetric analysis, thus improving specialized diagnostic services and promoting the shared resource clinical laboratory.
authors.affiliation: CoreLab, Laboratorio Unico di Area Vasta Romagna, Pievesestina di Cesena (FC), Forlì-Cesena, Italy. franco.monti@ausl-cesena.emr.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Masperi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dorizzi
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results