Pre-analytical Errors in Haematology Laboratory of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study of northern Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To identify the types and frequency of pre-analytical errors in the haematology laboratory and to reduce these preanalytical errors by taking corrective measures. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Haematology Laboratory of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar to Apr 2022 after applying corrective measures, pre-analytical errors were re-analysed from Jun to Jul 2022. Methodology: The study included all samples received in the haematology laboratory for complete blood count, peripheral blood smear, coagulation profile, and blood malarial parasite. Blood samples were checked for clotted samples, insufficient quantity, diluted samples, hemolysed samples, lipemic samples, and degenerated samples. After that, corrective measures were taken to reduce the pre-analytical errors. Results: The total number of samples received in the first session was 30,169, and pre-analytical errors were present in 508(0.016%) samples. The most frequent pre-analytical errors were of clotted samples 300(59.1%) followed by quantity not sufficient 168(33.1%), hemolysed samples 68(13.4%), diluted samples 49(9.6%), degenerated samples 22(4.3%) and lipemic samples 18(3.5%). After applying corrective measures, pre-analytical errors were reduced in clotted samples 78(52.7%), quantity not sufficient 39(26.4%), hemolysed samples 14(9.5%), diluted samples 11(7.4%), degenerated samples 5(3.4%) and lipemic samples 4(2.7%) respectively. Conclusion: This study showed the relative frequency of various pre-analytical errors in a haematology laboratory. It also signifies the implementation of corrective measures for reducing these pre-analytical errors.

Keywords

• Hemolysed Sample
• Lipemic Sample
• Pre-analytical errors
• Blood
• Blood cell count
• Pakistan