title: [Patient identification errors and biological samples in the analytical process: Is it possible to improve patient safety?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient identification errors and biological samples are one of the problems with the highest risk factor in causing an adverse event in the patient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To detect and analyse the causes of patient identification errors in analytical requests (PIEAR) from emergency departments, and to develop improvement strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A process and protocol was designed, to be followed by all professionals involved in the requesting and performing of laboratory tests. Evaluation and monitoring indicators of PIEAR were determined, before and after the implementation of these improvement measures (years 2010-2014).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 316 PIEAR were detected in a total of 483,254 emergency service requests during the study period, representing a mean of 6.80/10,000 requests. Patient identification failure was the most frequent in all the 6-monthly periods assessed, with a significant difference (P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improvement strategies applied showed to be effective in detecting PIEAR, as well as the prevention of such errors. However, we must continue working with this strategy, promoting a culture of safety for all the professionals involved, and trying to achieve the goal that 100% of the analytical and samples are properly identified.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica, Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mariaangeles.cuadrado@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cuadrado-Cenzual
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García Briñón
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica, Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: de Gracia Hills
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica, Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González Estecha
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collado Yurrita
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Pedro Moro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández Pérez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica, Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo Fernández
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D004282:Documentation; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D061214:Patient Safety; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012308:Risk Management; D013030:Spain; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Adverse event; Calidad asistencial; Emergency Care; Error sanitario; Eventos adversos; Identificación del paciente; Medical error; Patient identification; Patient safety; Quality healthcare; Seguridad del paciente; Urgencias