Computer-assisted bar-coding system significantly reduces clinical laboratory specimen identification errors in a pediatric oncology hospital.
Hayden RT, Patterson DJ, Jay DW, et al. Computer-assisted bar-coding system significantly reduces clinical laboratory specimen identification errors in a pediatric oncology hospital. J Pediatr. 2008;152(2):219-24. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.08.021.
Bar-coding technology has been associated with reductions in drug-dispensing errors but has also been associated with unintended consequences. This study implemented a bar-coding system for laboratory specimen identification, with careful attention to integrating the new system within existing laboratory workflow.