Kevin Moore looks at the causes and consequences of pre analytical errors in phlebotomy and asks how the problem can be addressed.
Every blood sample collected has a biological deadline. Laboratories have a four-hour window to process specimens before cellular degradation sets in and haemolysis begins to compromise results. In a busy laboratory which handles thousands of samples a day, the window is sliding shut to make samples unusable or inaccurate. In a best-case scenario the patient is recalled, re-bled, and rebooked, at least doubling the cost of the diagnostic testing. In a worst case their treatment is compromised.
Despite the extent of the problem, the conversation about why NHS trusts are still missing these targets continues to be misdirected: laboratories are routinely under the microscope but the process of phlebotomy is overlooked.
Sources of errors
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