Preanalytical errors are said to be the reason for up to 62% of all errors in laboratory medicine (1). Seven percent of percutaneous needle stick injuries are reported to occur in intensive and cardiac care units and operating rooms (2).
Bias on the hemoglobin results can be caused by insufficient mixing and may affect decisions for blood transfusion, whereas a trapped air bubble may give erroneous pO2 results. A test result attributed to the wrong patient due to a labeling error also carries the risk of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment, while the choice of blood gas sampling devices may also impact sample integrity.
Preanalytics is without a doubt the first step for accurate blood gas results. During this webinar, Anne Skurup will describe the most typical preanalytical errors, how each affect patient results and, most importantly, how to control them.
Presenter
Anne Skurup, MS, Editor-in-Chief of acutecaretesting.org, Clinical and Scientific Affairs Manager at Radiometer
References
(1) Carraro P et al. Errors in a stat laboratory: Types and frequencies 10 years later. Clin Chem 2007; 53,7: 1338-42;
(2) Perry J, Jagger J. Reducing sharps injury risk in intensive care www.acutecaretesting.org Jun 2005