Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2019.010704

Analysis of laboratory critical values at a referral Spanish tertiary university hospital

Ariadna Arbiol-Roca orcid.org/0000-0002-5206-3818 ; Laboratori Clínic, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Sofía Corral-Comesaña ; Synlab Diagnósticos Globales SA, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Ruth Cano-Corres ; Clinical Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
María José Castro-Castro ; Laboratori Clínic, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Macarena Dastis-Arias ; Laboratori Clínic, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Dolors Dot-Bach ; Laboratori Clínic, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyse critical value data from our laboratory and compare our critical value reporting policy with
others in the literature.
Materials and methods: Analysis of critical values was performed on data obtained over a 6-month period in a tertiary university hospital.
Results: We identified 5723 critical values, of which approximately 80% came from STAT testing (4577), 15% from routine inpatients testing (884)
and 5% from routine outpatients testing (262). The highest proportion of critical values corresponded to oxygen partial pressure (17.7%), followed
by potassium ion (17.6%) concentrations. The parameters associated with the highest critical value notification percentage in emergency patients
were pH, haematocrit, glucose, potassium ion and haemoglobin concentrations. In inpatients, these parameters were glucose, phosphate, haemoglobin,
sodium ion and potassium ion concentrations. In outpatients, they were calcium and potassium concentrations.
Conclusions: The analysis of critical values in our hospital is in accordance with that reported in the literature. Our findings demonstrate the importance
of incorporating improvement actions not only in critical value notification, but especially in the registration of this activity.

Keywords

critical values limits; critical values notification; patient safety

Hrčak ID:

213858

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/213858

Publication date:

15.2.2019.

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