摘要:
Objectives: Clinical laboratories frequently receive “extra” tubes of blood, urine, or body fluids. At the time of collection, these specimens have no testing associated with them. The present study seeks to analyze patterns of extra tube collection over an extended time period; we also analyzed utilization of extra tubes for add-on testing after implementation of new laboratory information system (LIS) software (Epic Beaker).Methods: In this retrospective study at an academic medical center, electronic health records were searched to obtain all extra tube orders that were placed during the time period April 1, 2004, to June 15, 2015. Add-on orders placed after implementation of the Epic Beaker software were obtained from August 2, 2014, to June 15, 2015.Results: During the time period of retrospective study, 745,666 extra tubes were collected from 193,596 patients. The emergency department accounted for 37.5% of extra tubes (n = 279,729). Outpatient clinics and services accounted for 32.9% of extra tubes (n = 245,246). Inpatient units accounted for 29.4% of extra tubes (n = 219,493). Operating rooms accounted for 0.2% of extra tubes (n = 1,200). For the period during which we analyzed utilization of extra tubes for add-on testing, 48.6% of add-on orders associated with an extra tube were for chemistry tests, and 43.6% were for hematology and coagulation tests. A single patient had 232 extra tubes collected while receiving care at the institution during the period of study; 572 patients were identified with more than 50 extra tubes collected during the period of study. We observed extra tube totals decrease upon implementation of paperless ordering and implementation of a new LIS. In addition, interventions in two outpatient clinics associated with very high use of extra tubes yielded significant decreases in extra tube collection. In the period since implementation of Epic Beaker, 10.7% of extra tubes were used for add-on test