@article{6075,
  author = {Laura K. Snydman and Beth Harubin and Sanjaya Kumar and Jack Chen and Robert E. Lopez and Deeb Salem},
  title = {Voluntary electronic reporting of laboratory errors: an analysis of 37,532 laboratory event reports from 30 health care organizations.},
  abstract = {<p>Laboratory testing is essential for diagnosis, evaluation, and management. The objective was to describe the type of laboratory events reported in hospitals using a voluntary electronic error reporting system (e-ERS) via a cross-sectional analysis of reported laboratory events from 30 health organizations throughout the United States (January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2005). A total of 37,532 laboratory-related events were reported, accounting for 14.1% of all reported quality events. Preanalytic laboratory events were the most common (81.1%); the top 3 were specimen not labeled (18.7%), specimen mislabeled (16.3%), and improper collection (13.2%). A small number (0.08%) of laboratory events caused permanent harm or death; 8% caused temporary harm. Most laboratory events (55%) did not cause harm. Laboratory errors constitute 1 of 7 quality events. Laboratory errors often are caused by events that precede specimen arrival in the lab and should be preventable with a better labeling processes and education. Most laboratory errors do not lead to patient harm.</p>},
  year = {2012},
  journal = {Am J Med Qual},
  volume = {27},
  pages = {147-53},
  month = {12/2012},
  issn = {1555-824X},
  doi = {10.1177/1062860611413567},
  language = {eng},
}