What happens when a lab specimen label contains incorrect information? According to the study by the College of American Pathologists, over 160,000 adverse events in U.S. hospitals occur annually because of sample identification errors. When it comes to the health of our loved ones and us, such numbers are concerning.
Beyond the human toll, sample misidentification creates financial waste, with redraws, retesting and additional treatment costing the healthcare industry an estimated $200-$400 million per year. In this era of rising healthcare costs, every dollar has an impact on us all. Based on these numbers alone, it is clear that accurate sample labeling is vital to improve both the quality and cost of healthcare.
Accurate Labeling as Preventive Medicine
Healthcare providers have been aware of the impact of sample misidentification for decades, and continuously look for ways to improve their lab processes. Accurate sample labeling is the best defense against misidentification errors and their consequences. Labeling samples at the time they are drawn is a proven method to reduce errors.
However, to achieve accuracy, healthcare providers must overcome several challenges:
■Increasing information – A standardization of electronic healthcare records means the gathering, storing, and linking of more information throughout the patient care process. In addition, blood, tissue, and cellular therapy products must be compliant with the ISBT 128 identification standard of labeling—a process simply not attainable with manual labeling.
■Label sizing – A label provides the critical link between the physical specimen and all the information in the systems associated with it. Test tubes, slides, hermetically sealed containers all require specific label dimensions. Cost-effective label creation means using versatile printing technology that produces a label in the exact size for the task, and only when it is needed.
■Durability – Pathology labs often must store specimens for up to 20 years, which means labels must be durable enough to last and afford resistance to chemicals. In areas such as blood banking and cellular therapies, products undergo cryopreservation, then stored for an extended period before patient transplantation.
■Legibility – Medical centers have found that color-coded labels provide a visual indicator of what tests the lab must perform, saving time. Furthermore, because each sample and patient are unique, healthcare providers need a labeling solution that replaces preprinted labels with a system that create labels on demand, and that will not smudge when exposed to liquids.
The Prescription – Bar Code Labeling
Bar code labeling and sample tracking provides medical centers a proven way to reduce sample identification and data entry errors. What’s more, using bar codes to identify samples and scanning them to record transfers and support test result entry extends accuracy and error prevention benefits into laboratory operations. Automated data entry is highly accurate and eliminates errors, which improves patient safety. Bar code sample identification also saves time, allowing lab staff to focus on clinical rather than clerical activities—thus improving both the quality and cost of healthcare.
For more information about bar code labeling technologies in laboratories, see Lab Labeling Solutions.
Zebra Healthcare
Sabine N. of Zebra Technologies
