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A retrospective study of quality improvement in clinical biochemistry laboratory

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Original Article

Author Details : Yellesh Pothula*, Yousef Mohammed Al-Marzooq, Ramzi AL Salem, Wasel AL-Jasem, Abdulhadi Al-Hajji

Volume : 6, Issue : 2, Year : 2019

Article Page : 197-199

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijcbr.2019.044

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Abstract

Introduction: Laboratory bias can occur during the pre-examination, examination and post-examination stages. The appropriate laboratory practice has the great impact on health care system, more than 70% patient management mainly depend on laboratory test result. Current scenario shows huge importance of the laboratory errors and its negative impact on patient treatment outcomes. Quality improvement program main aim is to evaluate the total system performance and provide appropriate protocol to improve that performance. Therefore in this study we recorded the errors occurred in pre-examination.
Aim: The aim of this study was to access the importance of quality improvement program in clinical diagnostic laboratory to reduce or eliminate the diagnostic error.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in King Fahad Hofuf Hospital Al-Assah (KSA) clinical biochemistry laboratory during a period of 2 years from March 2016 to June 2018. A total of 458,786 tests were performed on 147,746 outpatients and inpatients. 
Results: A total of 4, 58,786 tests were performed in 1, 47,746 patients during the overall study period. The overall bias was recorded 4.35%. Out of total bias pre-examination bias was 3.15%, examination error was 0.2% and post-examination bias was 1% respectively. During 2 years study period no significant increase (P= 0.9) of total examination bias were found.
Conclusion: As laboratory scientist professionals, we need to acquire proper strategies to maintain the quality in diagnostic laboratory and concern with the physicians provide effective health care service to the patients. We recommend regular assessments in all the laboratories to assure the quality in the health sector.

Keywords: Pre-examination, Examination, Post-examination, Errors, Quality control.

How to cite : Pothula Y, Al-marzooq Y M, Salem R A, Al-jasem W, Al-hajji A, A retrospective study of quality improvement in clinical biochemistry laboratory. Int J Clin Biochem Res 2019;6(2):197-199

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