Identification of errors in the pre-analytical stage of biopsies in a Chilean teaching hospital Caracterización de los errores asociados a la etapa preanalítica del proceso de biopsias en un hospital docente asistencial de Chile

Abstract

© 2017 Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica Objective Identify errors in the pre-analytical stage of the biopsy process. Detect critical points and blind spots in the biopsy process. Material and method Longitudinal, prospective, descriptive study. The authors analyzed the records of 11,145 samples taken during 2012, as well as hospital log books of sample rejections and incidents. The quality of the epidemiological information in the records was evaluated (patient identification, type of sample, origin of sample, referring physician, and legibility). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. This research complied with all international ethical norms for this type of study. Results Errors occurred mainly during the pre-analytical and analytical stages. Critical points of vulnerability to error included physician order entry and daily deliveries of batches of samples. Transfers of samples between units during the pre-analytical and analytical phases were also critical po