Workload efficiency in the hematology laboratory.

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Publication Type thesis
School or College School of Medicine
Department Pathology
Author Muñoz, Omar
Title Workload efficiency in the hematology laboratory.
Date 2008-05
Description In spite of the demonstrated accuracy of modern hematology analyzers, many laboratories repeat critical and delta results. No studies have evaluated the efficacy of repeating these results. Manual review of blood smears is a practice with considerable variability and also poorly studied. In this study we evaluated the analytical yield from repeating samples, and the efficacy of the criteria that trigger slide review and manual differentials. A retrospective analysis of approximately 2000 consecutive, repeated results were compared graphically and statistically. Approximately 1500 patients slides reviewed according to current institutional criteria were retrospectively evaluated according to the International Consensus Group for Hematology Review (ICGHR) criteria. Another 500 samples were reviewed prospectively to evaluate the relative efficiencies of the ICGHR and current review criteria. A survey tool assessing current review and repeat practices was sent to a sample of U.S. laboratories. The analytical yield for repeat analysis was negligible. Survey results revealed that 68.2% of laboratories always repeat critical results, while only 39.7 % always repeat delta results. A significant proportion of laboratories were not aware of the ICGHR review criteria (35.3 %). Application of the ICGHR review criteria would have reduced the number of manual differentials performed, but not the fraction of smears reviewed. Repeat analysis of critical and delta results is highly inefficient and unnecessary. Wide application of the ICGHR review criteria would reduce the number of manual differentials performed in laboratories.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Laboratories; Utilization
Subject MESH Hematology; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MS
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of " Workload efficiency in the hematology laboratory." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "Workload efficiency in the hematology laboratory." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. RB86.5 2008 .M85
Rights Management © Omar Muñoz
Format Medium application/pdf
Identifier us-etd2,76324
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
ARK ark:/87278/s60s03wb
Setname ir_etd
ID 192317
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s60s03wb