Lost, mislabeled, and mishandled surgical and clinical pathology specimens: a systematic review of published literature.

Lost, mislabeled, and mishandled pathology specimens can lead to delayed diagnosis and uncertainty for patients. This review analyzed the evidence on specimen errors during the pre-analytical stage. Most articles were US-based and focused on mislabeling errors. Interventions included standardized processes and checklists, and the authors recommend that future articles include implementation strategies to support other facilities in replicating their successes.