The impact of biosafety enhancement on stat laboratory quality metrics: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

John L. Frater; Jeanne Anderson

doi:10.1016/j.cca.2020.11.021

The impact of biosafety enhancement on stat laboratory quality metrics: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

John L. Frater, Jeanne Anderson

Division of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology (AMP)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: It is unclear if implementation of biosafety action plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected laboratory quality metrics. Methods: This retrospective study used quality data, including turnaround time (TAT) and number/type of unacceptable specimens from a stat laboratory supporting an outpatient medical clinic serving predominantly elderly cancer patients. Four months of data from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-June 2020) were compared to the same months in 2019. Results: March-May 2020 test volumes were decreased compared to 2019. June 2020 test volume was slightly increased compared to 2019. TATs in 2020 were similar/ slightly improved compared to the same months in 2019, due to shortened collect to receive and receive to verify TATs. The number and types of unacceptable specimens were similar in 2020 and 2019. Conclusions: Despite the challenges to the system caused by the pandemic, laboratory quality metrics were maintained.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	58-62
Number of pages	5
Journal	Clinica Chimica Acta
Volume	512
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2020.11.021
State	Published - Jan 2021

Keywords

COVID-19
Pre-analytical error
Stat laboratory
Turnaround time

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10.1016/j.cca.2020.11.021

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title = "The impact of biosafety enhancement on stat laboratory quality metrics: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = "Objective: It is unclear if implementation of biosafety action plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected laboratory quality metrics. Methods: This retrospective study used quality data, including turnaround time (TAT) and number/type of unacceptable specimens from a stat laboratory supporting an outpatient medical clinic serving predominantly elderly cancer patients. Four months of data from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-June 2020) were compared to the same months in 2019. Results: March-May 2020 test volumes were decreased compared to 2019. June 2020 test volume was slightly increased compared to 2019. TATs in 2020 were similar/ slightly improved compared to the same months in 2019, due to shortened collect to receive and receive to verify TATs. The number and types of unacceptable specimens were similar in 2020 and 2019. Conclusions: Despite the challenges to the system caused by the pandemic, laboratory quality metrics were maintained.",

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author = "Frater, {John L.} and Jeanne Anderson",

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year = "2021",

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AB - Objective: It is unclear if implementation of biosafety action plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected laboratory quality metrics. Methods: This retrospective study used quality data, including turnaround time (TAT) and number/type of unacceptable specimens from a stat laboratory supporting an outpatient medical clinic serving predominantly elderly cancer patients. Four months of data from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-June 2020) were compared to the same months in 2019. Results: March-May 2020 test volumes were decreased compared to 2019. June 2020 test volume was slightly increased compared to 2019. TATs in 2020 were similar/ slightly improved compared to the same months in 2019, due to shortened collect to receive and receive to verify TATs. The number and types of unacceptable specimens were similar in 2020 and 2019. Conclusions: Despite the challenges to the system caused by the pandemic, laboratory quality metrics were maintained.

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The impact of biosafety enhancement on stat laboratory quality metrics: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

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Keywords

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