title: History of the preanalytical phase: a personal view.
abstract: In the 70ies of the last century, ther term "preanalytical phase" was introduced in the literature. This term describes all actions and aspects of the "brain to brain circle" of the medical laboratory diagnostic procedure happening before the analytical phase. The author describes his personal experiences in the early seventies and the following history of increasing awareness of this phase as the main cause of "laboratory errors". This includes the definitions of influence and interference factors as well as the first publications in book, internet, CD-Rom and recent App form over the past 40 years. In addition, a short summary of previous developments as prerequesits of laboratory diagnostic actions is described from the middle age matula for urine collection to the blood collection tubes, anticoagulants and centrifuges. The short review gives a personal view on the possible causes of missing awareness of preanalytical causes of error and future aspects of new techniques in regulation of requests to introduction of quality assurance programs for preanalytical factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Munich Community Hospital (emerited), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Guder
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards
keywords: amylase in urine; anticoagulants; blood collection tubes; centrifugation; haemolytic samples; influence factors; interference factors; preanalytical factors