Table 5. Types of laboratory and pathology testing errors

Pre-Analytical Errors

Inaccurate quality of specimen

Wrong identification of patient and/or specimen

Missing physician order

Inappropriate quantity of specimen

Use of inappropriate container

Failure to label specimen container

Improper specimen collection technique

Inappropriate storage, transportation, handling or accession of specimens

Improper patient preparation

Analytical Errors

Improper testing equipment functioning or calibration

Improper test performance

Improper result calculation

Inadequate turn-around time

Unavailability of add-on and repeat testing

Post-Analytical Errors

Improper or untimely generation and transmission of test results

Use of non-standardized units in reporting

Failure to correct an erroneous result

Failure to notify the physician of a laboratory-testing problem

Data entry errors

Computer system malfunctions

Inaccurate or untimely physician interpretation and transmission of testing result to patient

Adapted from Hollensead et al. [47], Stahl et al. [48], and Plebani [49].