Table 4.
Comparison of responses based on the size of the laboratory test service
| Category | Question | Institutions carrying out ≥6 tests/day (N=80), N (%) | Institutions carrying out ≤5 tests/day (N=61), N (%) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen bottle | Patient information included on the bottle | 0.0001 | ||
| Barcoded | 39 (48.8) | 10 (16.4) | ||
| Handwritten | 41 (51.3) | 51 (83.6) | ||
| Bottle for routine chemistry tests | 0.5618 | |||
| Plain tube | 16 (20.0) | 10 (16.4) | ||
| SST | 63 (78.8) | 51 (83.6) | ||
| Others | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Factors that determine the specimen tube used | 0.0325 | |||
| Referral laboratory supplies the specimen collection tube | 61 (76.3) | 57 (93.4) | ||
| Clinic provides referral laboratory-recommended tubes | 13 (16.3) | 3 (4.9) | ||
| Clinic purchases bottles as they see fit | 5 (6.3) | 1 (1.6) | ||
| Unknown* | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Centrifuge | A centrifuge is available at the clinic | 0.0497 | ||
| Yes | 62 (77.5) | 38 (62.3) | ||
| No | 18 (22.5) | 23 (37.7) | ||
| When is centrifugation conducted (if the clinic has an on-site centrifuge) | 0.0847† | |||
| ~30 minutes after sampling | 27 (33.8) | 10 (16.4) | ||
| Immediately after sampling | 25 (31.3) | 16 (26.2) | ||
| At a designated time (e.g., once a day in the afternoon) | 6 (7.5) | 4 (6.6) | ||
| Rarely use a centrifuge | 2 (2.5) | 6 (9.8) | ||
| On arrival at the referral laboratory | 1 (1.3) | 2 (3.3) | ||
| Others | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Specimen storage/delivery | Specimen storage temperature after centrifugation | 0.0468 | ||
| Refrigerator temperature | 48 (81.4) | 29 (96.7) | ||
| Room temperature | 11 (18.6) | 1 (3.3) | ||
| Specimen storage condition after centrifugation | 0.1854‡ | |||
| In an SST | 44 (62.0) | 23 (52.3) | ||
| In a plain tube | 12 (16.9) | 12 (27.3) | ||
| Transfer serum into a serum separator | 9 (12.7) | 6 (13.6) | ||
| Transfer serum into a microtube | 6 (8.5) | 3 (6.8) | ||
| Specimen storage temperature without centrifugation | 0.2028 | |||
| Refrigerator temperature | 12 (54.5) | 23 (74.2) | ||
| Room temperature | 9 (40.9) | 8 (25.8) | ||
| Freezing temperature§ | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Specimen storage condition without centrifugation | 0.0942ll | |||
| Upright in a test tube rack | 19 (86.4) | 22 (71.0) | ||
| Placed upright or tilted in paper cups, etc. | 2 (9.1) | 6 (19.4) | ||
| Storage in a basket, etc. | 0 (0.0) | 3 (9.7) | ||
| Unknown | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Whether a guide to specimen storage has been received from the referral laboratory | 0.0248 | |||
| Received | 50 (62.5) | 26 (42.6) | ||
| Not received | 30 (37.5) | 34 (55.7) | ||
| Unknown¶ | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.6) | ||
| Specimen quality | Frequency of experiencing hemolysis that causes erroneous results | |||
| ~1/10 patients | 2 (2.5) | 2 (3.3) | 0.1786** | |
| ~1/100 patients | 11 (13.8) | 15 (24.6) | ||
| ~1/1,000 patients | 38 (47.5) | 15 (24.6) | ||
| ~1/10,000 patients | 20 (25.0) | 21 (34.4) | ||
| Almost never | 9 (11.3) | 8 (13.1) | ||
| If hemolysis is believed to have caused an erroneous result, the following actions are taken | 0.2554†† | |||
| Resampling and retesting | 50 (62.5) | 29 (47.5) | ||
| If the test is not critical, no further action is taken | 22 (27.5) | 20 (32.8) | ||
| Inform the patient that no resampling will be conducted | 13 (16.3) | 13 (21.3) | ||
| Retest using the previous specimen | 15 (18.8) | 5 (8.2) | ||
| Do not disclose to the patient; no resampling done | 2 (2.5) | 2 (3.3) | ||
| Others | 0 (0.0) | 3 (4.9) |
*Excluded from analysis; †Centrifugation after clotting vs. others; ‡In plain tubes vs. others; §Excluded from analysis; llPlace tube in an upright position in a test tube rack vs. others (“unknown” excluded); ¶No response to question. Excluded from analysis; **More than 1/1,000 patients vs.<1/10,000 patients; ††Resample and retest vs. others.
Abbreviation: SST, serum separating tube.