REVIEW

Pathology tests: is the time for demand management ripe at last?

G Gopal Rao¹, M Crook² and M L Tillyer³

¹ Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Lewisham, London SE13 6LH, UK
² Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital Lewisham
³ Department of Haematology, University Hospital Lewisham

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr G Gopal Rao, Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Lewisham, London SE13 6LH, UK;
gopal.rao{at}uhl.nhs.uk

With the ever increasing demands for pathology testing within the National Health Service there is a need to manage the demand for these tests. This review discusses strategies for the demand management of requests made by clinicians in the disciplines of biochemistry, haematology, and microbiology. The various approaches that have been used to manage demand will be described, along with specific clinical strategies for demand management.

Keywords: demand management; pathology

Abbreviations: APTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; A&E, accident and emergency; BCSH, British Committee for Standards in Haematology; CSU, catheter specimen of urine; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FBC, full blood count; HSVE, herpes simplex virus encephalitis; NHS, National Health Service; NPT, near patient test; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; VTE, venous thromboembolism

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hutton, H D, Drummond, H S, Fryer, A A (2009). The rise and fall of C-reactive protein: managing demand within clinical biochemistry. Ann Clin Biochem 46: 155-158 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McNulty, C. A., Thomas, M., Bowen, J., Buckley, C., Charlett, A., Gelb, D., Foy, C., Sloss, J., Smellie, S. (2008). Improving the appropriateness of laboratory submissions for urinalysis from general practice. Fam Pract 25: 272-278 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Westbrook, J I, Georgiou, A, Dimos, A, Germanos, T (2006). Computerised pathology test order entry reduces laboratory turnaround times and influences tests ordered by hospital clinicians: a controlled before and after study. J. Clin. Pathol. 59: 533-536 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Smellie, W S A, Finnigan, D I, Wilson, D, Freedman, D, McNulty, C A M, Clark, G (2005). Methodology for constructing guidance. J. Clin. Pathol. 58: 249-253 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Simpson, W G, Twomey, P J (2004). Reflective testing. J. Clin. Pathol. 57: 239-240 [Full Text]  
• Smellie, W S A, Clark, G, McNulty, C A M (2003). Inequalities of primary care microbiology testing between hospital catchment areas. J. Clin. Pathol. 56: 933-936 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Demand management of microbiology

Malila Noone

JCP Online, 22 May 2003 [Full text]

Demand control in pathology

William SA Smellie

JCP Online, 22 May 2003 [Full text]