Incidence of Hemolysed Specimens Received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Abstract

Incidence of Hemolysed Specimens Received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Mala Treewatchareekorn BSc (Med Tech), MSc (Biochemistry)

Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Clinical Pathology, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To study the incidence of hemolysed specimens received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital.

Study design: Descriptive study.

Subjects: A total of 30,048 specimens of clotted blood received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital from October to November, 2008.

Methods: All samples were recorded according to the degree of hemolysis, or no hemolysis in the record form. All data were analyzed for the incidences of hemolysis regarding the time intervals that the blood were obtained, sending places and degree of hemolysis.

Main outcome measures: Degree of hemolysis of the specimens and percentage of the hemolysed samples.

Results: The incidence of hemolysed specimens received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital was 2.84%. The incidence of hemolysed specimens from in-patient department (IPD) was 2.58% compared to 3.10% from out-patient department (OPD). The time interval with the highest incidence of hemolysed samples was after midnight to 8 AM. for IPD and 4 PM. to 6 AM. for OPD. The degree of hemolysis in most of the specimens was first degree which had minimal impact on the results of the tests.

Conclusion: The incidence of hemolysed specimens received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital was 2.84%, which was higher than 2% which was the laboratory standard. In order to lower the incidence of the hemolysed specimens to less than 2%, the co-operation of the involved persons is necessary.

Vajira Med J 2009 ; 53 : 291-297