Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis

Errors and points to be remembered in Laboratoroy

ERRORS AND POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED IN LABORATORY

Points to be remembered with regard to clinical laboratory examination

• All specimens should be properly collected and labelled.
• A history sheet giving details of the case should always accompany every specimen.viz. owner’s name, address, details of animal (kind of animal, breed, color, age, sex) history, tentative diagnosis, name of the clinician referred and type of sample sent.
• Sample should be as fresh as possible and preserved in a correct manner.
• Repeat samples should be examined wherever possible. It is always better to base the interpretation of data built on 3 or 4 screenings (examination).
• Tests, which are simple and easily performed in a minimum time, should be selected. Complicated tests are resorted  only when they are absolutely essential for establishing a diagnosis.
• Promptness in sending the results of tests is of paramount importance for early diagnosis and treatment.
• Specimens register should be properly and neatly maintained giving all the relevant particulars of the case.

Errors in clinical laboratory

• Errors in sample collection
• Laboratory bench error
• Errors in reporting or clerical errors.
• All errors should be carefully avoided to enhance the reliability of the laboratory results. ‘Reliability’ is a comprehensive term to include accuracy, sensitivity and reproducibility.
• In order to enhance reliability, comprehensive quality control programme should be introduced. Periodical cross checking with a standard laboratory, test checking with a different staff and introduction of dummy samples in a batch are some of the useful methods that may help to maintain the quality of work.