Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In this study we aimed to define target time periods to some substeps of the turnaround time in our hospital and assess the realization of these periods and determine the possible problems and make some quality improvements.

METHODS

We defined target time periods for the substeps of turnaround time as follows: Barcode-Collection Time (BT-CT) 30 minutes, Collection-Receipt of Sample (CT-ROS) 30 minutes, Receipt of Sample-Verification (ROS-VT) 240 m, CT-VT 270 m, BT-VT 300 m. We collected the data from Laboratory Information System for the number and mean realization times for biochemistry-hormone, nephelometer, complete and urinalysis.The mean periods both for all substeps and all tube groups which correspond and exceed the target were analyzed by a filtering method in Microsoft Office Excel 2007.

RESULTS

The total number of tubes barcoded and completed was 47.327. 56% of these were determined to be recorded for the collection times. The percent of tubes exceeding the target times were as follows: BT-CT 12%, CT-ROS 52%, ROS-VT 3%, CT-VT 14%, BT-VT 22%. The mean periods for ROS-VT and CT-VT were 129 and 210 minutes respectively and were in the target range for BT-VT period only the outpatient samples were completed in the period corresponding the target.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

For all test groups the target realization ratio was greater for outpatient samples compared to inpatients.