Potential for medical error : incorrectly completed request forms for thyroid function tests limit pathologists' advice to clinicians

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dc.contributor.authorZemlin, Annalise E.
dc.contributor.authorNutt, Louise
dc.contributor.authorBurgess, Lesley J.
dc.contributor.authorEiman, Fredeline
dc.contributor.authorErasmus, Rajiv T.
dc.date.accessioned2011-03-18T14:59:22Z
dc.date.available2011-03-18T14:59:22Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionArticle
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
dc.description.abstractBackground. Various publications have highlighted the significance of laboratory errors in the pre- and post-analytical phases and their impact on results. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a first-line thyroid function test and, if abnormal, reflex thyroxine (T4) or tri-iodothyronine (T3) testing is requested, depending on clinical and medication data provided. Interpretative comments are added to all TFT results. Objectives. In view of the paucity of articles describing such errors, we audited laboratory request forms requesting thyroid function tests (TFT), received from primary care clinics and regional hospitals at our laboratory. Design. We assessed 482 laboratory request forms for TFT from primary health care clinics for specific parameters. Results. A total of 482 forms were analysed. Medication/s used by the patient (74.5%) and doctor's contact number (65.1%) were the most commonly incomplete parameters. Of the 123 patients with medication details, 62 (50.4%) were on thyroxine. Conclusions. There are few studies examining the frequency and impact of incomplete laboratory forms on laboratory errors, and even fewer studies examining interpretative comments accompanying clinical biochemistry results. We studied how pre-analytical errors in completing request forms may lead to incorrect interpretative comments and inappropriate reflex testing, and so influence the quality of the post-analytical phase.
dc.format.extentp. 668-671 : ill.
dc.identifier.citationZemlin, A. E. et.al 2009, Potential for medical error : incorrectly completed request forms for thyroid function tests limit pathologists' advice to clinicians, South African Medical Journal, 99(9) 668-671, http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj
dc.identifier.issn02569574 (printed version)
dc.identifier.issn20785135 (EISSN)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/7787
dc.language.isoen_ZA
dc.publisherHealth and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
dc.rights.holderHealth and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
dc.subjectThyroid function testsen_ZA
dc.subjectPathology reporten_ZA
dc.subjectPrimary care clinics -- Laboratory forms -- Completionen_ZA
dc.subjectCorrect diagnosis -- Effect of incomplete data onen_ZA
dc.subjectDiagnostic errorsen_ZA
dc.subjectThyroid function test -- Effect of interpretive comments onen_ZA
dc.subjectCorrect thyroid functions tests -- Effect of interpretive comments on --en _ZA
dc.titlePotential for medical error : incorrectly completed request forms for thyroid function tests limit pathologists' advice to cliniciansen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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