[Present situation and problems of the transportation of samples by clinical laboratory centers]

Several preanalytical as well as analytical problems on quality control (QC) in clinical laboratory centers have been suspected. Participation in several control surveys and practical checks and guides including surveys ordered by the Bureau of Health and Welfare seem to have prompted the improvement of QC in the centers. However, preanalytical QC seems to be poorly recognized, and is much more difficult than analytical QC. In hospitals and various medical institutions, the following problems have been pointed; technical problems in sampling, sample care after collection (time, temperature, etc), serum separation and so on. The most difficult and unrecognized problems are sampling of urine and feces by patients themselves. Much more attention should be focused on these problems, and medical staff should be educated more on sampling and transportation.