BD, the global medical technology company, has embarked on an initiative to ensure immediate safety and quality improvement in laboratory medicine. This is because around 80 per cent of clinical decisions are based upon information derived from laboratory tests.

Poor laboratory process affects test result accuracy. Inaccurate test reports impact a diagnostic centre or hospital’s ability to provide optimal clinical outcomes. This is where BD is now keen to focus on pre-analytical science for quality improvement in laboratory medicine. “Pre-analytical process is complex and accounts for random errors. Therefore improvements in these processes would lead to better practice, reduced pre-analytical errors and better quality,” said Dr Ana Stankovic, World Wide vice president (VP), Medical Affairs– Pre-analytical Systems, BD Diagnostics.

Laboratory errors are a serious blow to healthcare providers and there is need to give considerable attention to the sample or specimen quality. Therefore from  patient preparation to specimen collection, processing, storage, handling, equipment, technique and transportation are major concerns, she added.

Clinical laboratories are now gearing to provide high-quality services in the wake of ever-shrinking resources and increasing regulatory demands. Lab directors and managers are viewing the pre-analytical phase of laboratory testing as a critical area for improvement that can drive not only better patient care, but also enhance productivity and cost savings.

While quality, effectiveness and impact on outcomes continue to emerge as value-added services for the laboratories, a comprehensive quality control program, along with pre-analytical awareness and training can prove to be valuable tools to improve specimen quality and subsequently patient care, pointed out Dr Stankovic who was in Bengaluru to interact with pathology experts.

“It is estimated that 70 to 85 per cent of clinical decisions are based on laboratory test information. Therefore it is critical to ensure optimal sample quality. Further, the role of the laboratory in providing a quality service to achieve this objective is of paramount importance. Good practices and compliance can significantly reduce errors and laboratory costs,” she stated.

Pre-analytical errors can contribute to costs by impacting quality of patient care ensuing from erroneous medical diagnosis and delayed results. Ample caution needs to be taken on safety of both patient and staff from needle stick injuries.  It would also increase the turnaround time and repeat sample collections. The negligence would also affect human and capital resources. The biggest blow would be the marred reputation with patients and fellow colleagues, she said.

In order to strengthen healthcare systems, BD provides pre-analytical audits across laboratories and delivers specific modules that allow laboratory managers to improve their processes. Its phlebotomy training programs are endorsed by the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBI), an organisation that is at the forefront of constantly improving practises in laboratory medicine. The customized training programmes helps to hone the skills of laboratory staff which helps to reduce harmful pre-analytical errors, improve efficiency, reduce patient waiting times and re-engineer processes and procedure, stated Dr Stankovic.