Causes of Errors in Medical Laboratories

D-dimer: Preanalytical, analytical, postanalytical variables, and clinical applications

“…It is now clearly established that most errors encountered in the hemostasis laboratory are related to preanalytical activities [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Preanalytical errors have a frequency of 60-70%, a frequency that is much higher than that occurring in the analytical (e.g.…”

“…10-15%) and postanalytical phase (e.g. 15-20%) [20]. Preanalytical errors are related mainly to intensive manual activities [20,21].…”

“…The types of interferences occurring in the preanalytical phase of coagulation testing are typically classified into paraproteinemia, icterus, lipemia, and, the most studied, hemolysis [20].…”

“…Although it is now clearly established that most problems in the hemostasis laboratory emerge from the preanalytical phase (60-70%), [20] the postanalytical phase is still the cause of a large number of diagnostic errors (15-20%) that can jeopardize patient safety [105]. Here we discuss postanalytical issues that are specific to D-dimer measurement.…”

Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine: National recommendations for blood collection, processing, performance and reporting of results for coagulation screening assays prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time

“…The preanalytical phase of testing includes all processes from the time when a physician makes a request for certain laboratory test, until the time when sample is ready for testing. The majority of laboratory errors occur in this phase and problems can arise at any time prior the specimen is received in the laboratory ( 5 , 7 ). As most of errors occurring in preanalytical phase often become apparent later in the analytical and postanalytical phases, the preanalytical phase must have rigorous control mechanisms to avoid or reduce the risk of errors ( 7 - 9 ).…”