Unnecessary repeat requesting of tests: an audit in a government hospital immunology laboratory
- Clinical Immunology Division, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
- Correspondence to: Dr J Kwok Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; kwoksyha.org.hk
- Accepted 31 August 2004
Abstract
Unnecessary repeat requesting of tests can make up a large proportion of a laboratory’s workload. This audit set out to establish the size of this problem and to identify the circumstances under which these repeat requests were made in a government tertiary hospital immunology laboratory. The numbers of tests for immunoglobulin measurement, common autoantibodies, and tumour markers that were repeated over a 12 month period were analysed by interrogating the Delphic laboratory computer system using a management information system for raw data enquiry protocol. Repeat requests within 12 weeks of a previous request made up 16.78% of the total workload. The total cost of the tests was estimated at US$ 132 151. The waste of technician time and reagents as a result of unnecessary repeat testing is excessive. Many of these tests might be eliminated with the use of interventions such as computerised reminders.
- ADNA, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies
- AENA, anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies
- AFP, α fetoprotein
- AGPC, anti-gastric parietal cell antibodies
- AMA, antimitochondrial antibodies
- ANA, antineutrophil antibodies
- ASM, anti-smooth muscle antibodies
- CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen
- PSA, prostate specific antigen
- RF, rheumatoid factor
