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Where is the delay? A phase-wise analysis of turnaround time in a veterinary biochemistry laboratory
Himalaya Bhardwaj1, Sugam Singh1, Rohit Kumar Jaiswal2
1Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Bihar Veterinary College, Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna, Bihar, India.
Introduction:
Turnaround time (TAT) is an important indicator of laboratory efficiency; however, limited information is available regarding its assessment in veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
Methods:
A retrospective and prospective observational study was conducted between April and May 2024. TAT was defined as the interval from blood sample collection to final report dissemination and was subdivided into pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases. Only complete serum biochemical profiles comprising liver and kidney function tests were included. Comparative analysis among routine weekday, weekend, and emergency workflows was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction.
Results And Discussion:
Among the approximately 300 biochemical samples processed during the study period, 82 routine samples fulfilled the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the comparative analysis, comprising 54 weekday and 28 weekend samples. In addition, all eligible emergency samples were evaluated as a separate operational category. Mean total TAT was highest during weekend operations (2959.9 ± 50.3 min), followed by routine weekdays (1528.5 ± 20.0 min), whereas emergency samples exhibited the shortest TAT (54.7 ± 9.1 min). The post-analytical phase contributed the largest proportion of total TAT and demonstrated significant variation among groups (p < 0.001), while analytical performance remained consistent across operational categories (p > 0.05). Pre- and post-analytical processes accounted for 99.45 and 99.72% of total TAT during routine weekday and weekend operations, respectively. The findings demonstrate that TAT variability in veterinary biochemistry laboratories is predominantly driven by post-analytical workflow factors. Targeted improvements in reporting and validation processes may substantially enhance laboratory efficiency and diagnostic service delivery in veterinary healthcare settings.
