Evaluation of Specimen Rejection rate in Hematology Laboratory

Abstract

Objective: To calculate the rate of rejected specimens received in hematology laboratory stratified by area of collection and reason of rejection. Design: Retrospective study conducted at Sir T General Hospital and Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar, for twelve months period; January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Data were retrieved from the laboratory records. Results: The rate of specimen rejection was highest in the medical ward and clotted specimens were the commonest cause for rejection followed by wrong patent identification. Conclusion: A constellation of factors, mainly related to phlebotomy technique and wrong patient identification are the reasons for rejection of specimens in the hematology laboratory. The phlebotomy technique may be wrong, there may be lesser efficiency of the staff in phlebotomy and inability of correct patient identification maybe reasons for this observation.