From the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Pantanowitz); the Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Dr Mackinnon); and the Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Dr Sinard).
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013 Dec;137(12):1798-810. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2013-0125-SA. Epub 2013 May 1.
Bar code-based tracking solutions, long present in clinical pathology laboratories, have recently made an appearance in anatomic pathology (AP) laboratories. Tracking of AP "assets" (specimens, blocks, slides) can enhance laboratory efficiency, promote patient safety, and improve patient care. Routing of excess clinical material into research laboratories and biorepositories are other avenues that can benefit from tracking of AP assets. Implementing tracking is not as simple as installing software and turning it on. Not all tracking solutions are alike. Careful analysis of laboratory workflow is needed before implementing tracking to assure that this solution will meet the needs of the laboratory. Such analysis will likely uncover practices that may need to be modified before a tracking system can be deployed. Costs that go beyond simply that of purchasing software will be incurred and need to be considered in the budgeting process. Finally, people, not technology, are the key to assuring quality. Tracking will require significant changes in workflow and an overall change in the culture of the laboratory. Preparation, training, buy-in, and accountability of the people involved are crucial to the success of this process. This article reviews the benefits, available technology, underlying principles, and implementation of tracking solutions for the AP and research laboratory.
基于条码的跟踪解决方案早已在临床病理实验室中应用，最近也出现在解剖病理（AP）实验室中。对 AP“资产”（标本、组织块、切片）的跟踪可以提高实验室效率、促进患者安全并改善患者护理。将多余的临床材料路由到研究实验室和生物库也是可以从 AP 资产跟踪中受益的其他途径。实施跟踪并不像安装软件并打开它那么简单。并非所有的跟踪解决方案都一样。在实施跟踪之前，需要仔细分析实验室工作流程，以确保该解决方案符合实验室的需求。这种分析可能会发现一些在部署跟踪系统之前需要修改的操作。除了购买软件的成本之外，还会产生超出软件成本的其他费用，并且需要在预算编制过程中考虑这些费用。最后，人而不是技术才是保证质量的关键。跟踪将需要对工作流程进行重大更改，并全面改变实验室的文化。参与人员的准备、培训、认同和问责制对于该过程的成功至关重要。本文回顾了用于 AP 和研究实验室的跟踪解决方案的益处、可用技术、基本原理和实施。
