Evaluation of routine outpatient laboratory test turnaround times

ABSTRACTS / Clinical Biochemistry 42 (2009) 324–337

Results: We have estimated our method's slope and yintercept values (0.9544, 0.1259; respectively). The precision and bias were calculated (2.67%, 2.63% respectively). In comparison with the reference method, our results have a lower Sigma-metric value of 4.63 than the reference. Conclusion: In conclusion, lower CV and bias are needed for laboratory result to be of world class quality. Keywords: HbA1c %; Sigma metric; Olympus AU 640

329

Keywords: Turnaround time; Laboratory accreditation; Laboratory quality; Quality management

Precision and bias Our method Bias % CV % Sigma

2.63 2.67 4.63

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2008.09.051

B10 Evaluation of routine outpatient laboratory test turnaround times Sedef Yenice, Coskun Maden, Sibel Gundogan, Esra Ozsen Gayrettepe Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey Objectives: The prompt and predictable reporting of routine outpatient tests is essential for outpatient care. In this regard, Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Clinical Laboratories requires that the laboratory has to have a means of measuring turnaround time (TAT), and a way of ensuring that turnaround time is acceptable. This study focused on the TAT of routine outpatient testing. Design & methods: The present study examined TATs for routine outpatient tests including CBC, TSH, glucose, AST, ALT, aPTT, PT tests and urinalysis. The time period between specimen collection and reporting or releasing of the test results was measured as TAT. Median and 90th percentile TATs (the times by which 50% and 90% of each CBC, Troponin-T, CK and CK-MB test results were released) were calculated. These times were organized into percentile distributions in order to compare the TATs. This study also evaluated the degree of satisfaction among clinicians with the timeliness of clinical biochemistry laboratory service for routine outpatient testing. Results: Median TATs for CBC, TSH, glucose, AST, ALT, aPTT, PT tests and urinalysis were depicted in Fig. 1. Distributions of TATs in three different time periods that include draw-to-receipt, receipt-to-reporting and draw-toreporting for each test component were evaluated. Assessment of satisfaction questionnaires completed by clinicians of outpatient department revealed that TATs were good (93.8%) and average (6.2%). Conclusion: Routine outpatient turnaround times for CBC, TSH, glucose, AST, ALT, aPTT, PT tests and urinalysis generally met their reporting deadlines.

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2008.09.052

B11 External quality assurance experience in porphyrin analyses Ismail Kurt Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Objectives: The objective of this study is to direct attention to the significance of external quality assurance (EQA) programs regarding porphyrin analyses. Design & methods: External quality assurance (EQA) is known to be useful for following the long term performance of an extensively utilized test with high precision and it is also a powerful tool for verification of accuracy of a novel test result. Between 1996 and 2007, we had the advantage of porphyrin EQA program (Australia) during the implementation as well as maintenance of porphyrin analyses at Porphyrin Laboratory of GATA. Results: The results are evaluated based on median value of the attending laboratories. As the median values are highly affected by outliers, an assessment of dispersion of laboratory results of each cycle is needed. We also have benefited from the EQA samples as positive case controls. Conclusion: Implementation and maintenance of accuracy of the porphyrin analysis, which are concluded, must be closely associated with EQA approaches due to the fact that there is a lack of a reference method for porphyrin determination. Keywords: Porphyrin; External quality assurance doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2008.09.053