Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Laboratory services have been described as the
major processes contributing to safe patient care in the modern
healthcare sector. However, occurrences of errors in the overall
testing processes impair the clinical decision-making process.
Such errors are supposed to be high in resource-poor countries,
like Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess errors in the
total testing process in the Clinical Chemistry laboratory of the
University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the
University of Gondar Hospital from February to March 2016. All
the required data were collected using established quality
indicators. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Frequencies and cross-tabulations were used to summarize
descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: A total of 3259 samples and corresponding laboratory
request forms were received for analysis. The analysis of the
overall distribution of errors revealed that 89.6% were preanalytical
errors, 2.6% were analytical, and 7.7% were postanalytical
errors. Of the pre-analytical errors, incomplete request
form filling was the most frequent error observed, followed by
sample rejection rate (3.8%). Analytical errors related to internal
and external quality control exceeding the target range, (14.4%)
and (51.4%) respectively, were reported. Excessive turnaround
time and unreported critical value cases were the major defects in
the post-analytical phase of quality assurance.
CONCLUSION: The present finding showed relatively high
frequency of errors, which alarms the importance of quality
indicators to assess errors in the total testing process. The
University of Gondar Hospital laboratory should improve the
quality of healthcare services based on these findings using
laboratory standards.
