title: Effectiveness of barcoding for reducing patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors: a Laboratory Medicine Best Practices systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is the first systematic review of the effectiveness of barcoding practices for reducing patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CDC-funded Laboratory Medicine Best Practices Initiative systematic review methods for quality improvement practices were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17 observational studies reporting on barcoding systems are included in the body of evidence; 10 for patient specimens and 7 for point-of-care testing. All 17 studies favored barcoding, with meta-analysis mean odds ratios for barcoding systems of 4.39 (95% CI: 3.05-6.32) and for point-of-care testing of 5.93 (95% CI: 5.28-6.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barcoding is effective for reducing patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors in diverse hospital settings and is recommended as an evidence-based "best practice." The overall strength of evidence rating is high and the effect size rating is substantial. Unpublished studies made an important contribution comprising almost half of the body of evidence.
authors: Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, Century Plaza 1, 2987 Clairmont Road, NE - Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30329‐4448, USA. snydersu@battelle.org
authors: Susan R
authors: SR
authors: Snyder
authors: Alessandra M
authors: AM
authors: Favoretto
authors: James H
authors: JH
authors: Derzon
authors: Robert H
authors: RH
authors: Christenson
authors: Stephen E
authors: SE
authors: Kahn
authors: Colleen S
authors: CS
authors: Shaw
authors: Rich Ann
authors: RA
authors: Baetz
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Mass
authors: Corinne R
authors: CR
authors: Fantz
authors: Stephen S
authors: SS
authors: Raab
authors: Milenko J
authors: MJ
authors: Tanasijevic
authors: Edward B
authors: EB
authors: Liebow
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States