Errors in the Hematology Laboratory at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical laboratory errors in hematology tests. RESULTS: A total of 2606 hematology requests were studied. Out of the total, 562 (21.6%) pre-analytic, 14 (0.5%) analytical and 168 (6.4%) post-analytical errors were recorded which contribute a total frequency of 75.5, 1.9 and 22.6%, respectively. The name of the physician requesting the test was not provided on 2215 (85%) of request forms and 1827 (70.1%) of the request forms were unaccompanied with proper clinical details of the patient. Essential information required on the request forms was often missed. Close communication between clinicians and laboratory personnel is the key to improve laboratory quality in general.