Simple Laboratory Test Utilization Interventions to Reduce Inappropriate Specialty Coagulation Testing.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Laboratory Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Coagulation test naming conventions can lead to confusion in electronic ordering systems.
• This confusion can result in inappropriate specialty coagulation assay orders and increased laboratory costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of test utilization interventions on specialty coagulation assays.
• To reduce inappropriate test orders and associated laboratory charges.

Main Methods:

• Implemented interventions including renaming factor assays to activity and resident review of specific factor requests (V and X).
• Conducted a retrospective review of factor V and X activity orders one year before and after interventions.

Main Results:

• Factor V and X activity orders decreased by approximately 40% post-intervention.
• Resulted tests decreased by over 47%, leading to significant annual cost reductions ($2,493.05 for Factor V, $1,867.80 for Factor X).
• Abnormal factor V activity result rates increased from 45% to 59%.

Conclusions:

• Simple interventions effectively reduce inappropriate specialty coagulation test orders.
• These interventions lead to significant cost savings and improved laboratory resource utilization.