Bilwani F, Siddiqui I, Vaqar S
Section of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
J Pak Med Assoc. 2003 Feb;53(2):65-7.
To evaluate the delay and reasons of delay of turn around time (TAT) of stat tests in the section of clinical chemistry of the clinical laboratory.
Clinical Laboratory, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
In our study turn around time (TAT) of stat tests were analyzed. Turn around time was specified as the time from receipt of the sample till the final verification of results (sample receipt time to result verification time). Delays were categorized into 15 minutes, 16-30 minutes, 31 to 60 minutes and > 60 minutes. It was also noted as to which time of the day was delay in reporting stat results occurred. Reasons for the delay were also looked into.
Total 20079 stat samples were received from August 2001 till October 2001. Four hundred eight (2.03%) samples were reported after the acceptable turnaround time. Cumulative analysis of the excess TAT of stat tests showed that 0-15 minutes delay was noted in 68 (16.7%) samples, 16-30 minutes delay in 80(19.6%) samples, 31-60 minutes delay in 76 (18.6%) samples as and more than 60 minutes delay in 185 (45.3%) of samples. Most of the delay in reporting of stat test in three months time was surprisingly noted in the morning shift. Overall delay in reporting in morning shift was found to be of 242 (59.3%) samples. In the evening and night shift 83 (20.3%) and 82 (20.1%) samples respectively were found to be delayed. Reasons for delay in TAT were as follows: n = 163 (40%) due to machine breakdown, n = 147(36%) due to delay in the maintenance of analyzers, n = 73 (18%) due to overlook of the staff during shift change (e.g. night shift to morning shift) and n = 25 (6%) due to computer shutdown.
We conclude that most of the delay in TAT of stat tests in our laboratory occurred for more than 60 minutes and was frequently seen in the morning shift. It was also noticed that machine breakdown was the most common reason for this delay. Regular audit of such data helps in the evaluation of the efficiency of the laboratory and hence corrective measures taken accordingly would be helpful in providing better service to the physicians and patients.
评估临床实验室临床化学科急诊检验周转时间（TAT）的延迟情况及延迟原因。
卡拉奇阿迦汗大学医院临床实验室。
在我们的研究中，对急诊检验的周转时间进行了分析。周转时间定义为从收到样本到结果最终核实的时间（样本接收时间至结果核实时间）。延迟分为15分钟、16 - 30分钟、31至60分钟以及>60分钟。同时还记录了急诊结果报告延迟发生在一天中的哪个时间段。对延迟原因也进行了调查。
2001年8月至2001年10月共接收20079份急诊样本。408份（2.03%）样本在可接受的周转时间之后报告。对急诊检验额外周转时间的累积分析显示，0 - 15分钟延迟的样本有68份（16.7%），16 - 30分钟延迟的样本有80份（19.6%），31 - 60分钟延迟的样本有76份（18.6%），超过60分钟延迟的样本有185份（45.3%）。令人惊讶的是，在三个月的时间里，急诊检验报告的大多数延迟出现在早班。早班报告的总体延迟样本为242份（59.3%）。晚班和夜班分别有83份（20.3%）和82份（20.1%）样本出现延迟。周转时间延迟的原因如下：n = 163（40%）是由于机器故障，n = 147（36%）是由于分析仪维护延迟，n = 73（18%）是由于工作人员在交接班时（如夜班转早班）疏忽，n = 25（6%）是由于计算机关机。
我们得出结论，我们实验室急诊检验周转时间的大多数延迟超过60分钟，且经常出现在早班。还注意到机器故障是这种延迟最常见的原因。定期审核此类数据有助于评估实验室的效率，因此相应采取的纠正措施将有助于为医生和患者提供更好的服务。
