Improving mid stream urine sampling: reducing labelling error and laboratory rejection

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Urine samples are crucial for diagnosing infections in elderly patients with fever or confusion.
• Incomplete request forms led to high rejection rates of urine samples on geriatric wards.
• Previous staff re-education failed to improve urine sample acceptance rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an electronic-requesting system on urine sample rejection rates.
• To improve the efficiency and accuracy of urine sample processing in geriatric care.
• To ensure compliance with hospital trust policies for sample requests.

Main Methods:

• An audit of urine sample rejections was conducted before and after implementing an electronic-requesting system.
• Data collected included the number of samples processed, rejected, and the method of request (hand-written vs. electronic).
• The study compared rejection rates between hand-written and electronic requests.

Main Results:

• Initially, 17% of hand-written urine samples were rejected.
• After implementing the electronic system, rejection rates dropped significantly.
• No electronically requested samples were rejected, achieving 100% acceptance and reducing diagnostic delays.

Conclusions:

• The electronic-requesting system effectively minimized urine sample rejections.
• Digital requesting ensures adherence to trust policies, surpassing the efficacy of staff re-education.
• This system enhances patient care by enabling timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment.