Managing the patient identification crisis in healthcare and laboratory medicine.
Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Bovo C, et al. Managing the patient identification crisis in healthcare and laboratory medicine. Clin Biochem. 2017;50(10-11):562-567. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.02.004.
Patient identification mistakes associated with diagnostic blood testing can have serious consequences. This commentary recommends several strategies to redesign laboratory processes to reduce risks of specimen misidentification, such as utilizing at least two patient identifiers, providing staff training, and using technologies to track and manage specimens.