Improvement of emergency and routine turnaround time by data processing and instrumentation changes.

A retrospective study of stat and routine laboratory analysis turnaround time was performed in a 1000-bed public hospital before and after the implementation of instrument and computer changes. Significant decreases in turnaround time were found for enzyme tests in the stat laboratory and for all analytes studied in the routine laboratory. The decrease in TAT was evaluated using a physician satisfaction scale, elaborated in conjunction with specialists from several fields, that disclosed an increase in perceptive quality. Results from other authors and recommendations by the College of American Pathologists for turnaround time are discussed.