Evaluation of preanalytical errors in the central clinical laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in Pune, India

Abstract

Introduction
Preanalytical errors, account for 46%–68% of laboratory errors. These errors impact diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and healthcare costs. This study investigates preanalytical errors in the central clinical laboratory of Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, identifying key issues and proposing corrective measures.
Methods
A descriptive study was conducted over three months on 200 randomly selected samples. Errors were evaluated using predefined quality indicators (QIs). Root cause analysis identified contributing factors, and corrective measures were implemented, including staff training and continuous quality monitoring.
Results
The study identified an overall preanalytical error rate, with the most common issues being incomplete physician information (94%), incomplete patient identification (74%), and sample integrity problems (14%). Root cause analysis highlighted deficiencies in staff training, particularly among nurses and interns handling inpatient samples.

Conclusion
Preanalytical errors remain a significant challenge in laboratory medicine. Addressing these issues requires stringent quality control measures, comprehensive staff training programs, and continuous assessment of preanalytical processes. Implementing corrective actions can enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve patient safety, and reduce hospital costs.