Specimen rejection rate and associated factors among referred specimens through referral network to Debre Markos referral hospital for Laboratory testing, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Clinical laboratory errors could be classified as pre analytical, analytical and post
analytical. The majority of laboratory errors emerge from the manually intensive activities of the
pre analytical phase, mainly those related to collection, handling, transportation, preparation and
storage of diagnostic specimens.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess the specimen rejection rate and associated
factors among the referred specimens through referral network to Debre Markos referral hospital
for laboratory testing.
Method: Retrospective study was conducted at Debre Markos referral hospital laboratory from
January 2016 to December 2019 to evaluate trends of specimen rejection rate. In addition,
prospective cross sectional study design was applied from January 2020 to April 2020 to
investigate further associated factors of specimen rejection. Data was collected from specimen
reception log book and from referring facilities using developed checklist. Finally, statistical
analysis was done with excel 2007 and SPSS version 20.0 software.
Result: From the total of 35673 specimens submitted to Debre Markos referral hospital
laboratory from January 2016 to December 2019, a total of 560 (1.57%) specimens were
rejected. The specimen rejection rates in each year were 2.30%, 1.59%, 1.42% and 1.26 %
respectively from 2016 to 2019. Moreover, of 2750 specimens submitted to the laboratory during
January 2020 to April 2020, a total of 37 (1.34%) specimens were rejected. Specimen collector
training status and experience had significant association with specimen rejection rate (P= 0.01&
P=0.04 respectively).
Conclusion: Although specimen rejection rate among referred specimens was improved
gradually from 2016 to 2019, still needs more interventions to meet the established target
specimen rejection rate (0.3%).Hence, training of health professionals on specimen collection,
handling and transportation of requested tests, appropriate preventive and corrective actions
could improve the problem in specimen referral network.
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Keywords
Specimen rejection rate, clinical laboratory errors, laboratory quality management system