Controlling Clinical Laboratory Errors: A Critical Approach!

In clinical diagnostics, even a small error can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or compromised patient care. Errors can occur at any stage—pre-analytical, analytical, or post-analytical—due to poor sample handling, instrument malfunction, or reporting mistakes. Did you know? Laboratory errors occur in approximately 1 in 214 to 8,316 test results, impacting both patients and healthcare providers. Key Areas of Focus: Identifying Lab Errors: Through complaints, internal audits, feedback, and proficiency testing. Handling Complaints & Errors: Treat them as opportunities for improvement, ensuring personal involvement and systematic tracking. Types of Lab Errors: Latent Errors: Organizational failures, understaffing, poor infrastructure. Active Errors: Pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical mistakes. Analytical Errors Breakdown: Systematic Errors: Poor calibration, incorrect procedures. Random Errors: Pipetting mistakes, transcription errors. Precision in laboratory testing isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity for better healthcare outcomes. Want to explore detailed strategies to minimize lab errors? Read the full article here!