Case Report

Year : 2017 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 1 | Page : 31 - 34

Preanalytical variables: Influence on laboratory results and patient care

Rateesh Sareen, Menka Kapil, G. N. Gupta

Department of Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, SDM Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Rateesh Sareen, Department of Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, SDM Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

E‐mail: drrateeshsareen@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Pre analytical errors have a major impact on diagnostic accuracy of laboratory results. There have been tremendous work and established quality control criteria for analytical phase of testing but there is paucity of standards for pre analytical phase. Recommendations for sample collection, storage, processing and transport have been developed by national and international consensus. There is a dire need for all laboratories to formulate their own quality manual so that day to day pre analytical errors are curtailed. As the errors in pre analytical phase are not inevitable and should be avoided with diligent application of quality control, education dedicated to patient care. We illustrate the ability of laboratory data by case studies to reinforce the importance of vigilance in pre analytical phase of testing.

Keywords: Laboratory errors, preanalytical phase, quality manual

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Sareen R, Kapil M, Gupta GN. Preanalytical variables: Influence on laboratory results and patient care. Int J Clinicopathol Correl 2017;1:31-4.