Re: Histology slide labeling errors
From: | Vinnie Della Speranza |
Mislabeled slides that make their way to the pathologist set the stage for
catastrophe. It cannot be assumed that the pathologist will always be able to
spot the labeling error, for example if gyn bxs from two post menopausal women
have been confused due to a labeling error.
aside from this, persistent labeling errors can lose the
pathologist's confidence in your lab.
even though 4 mislabelings out of 6000 seems like a small #, someone could
have been seriously injured.
we check all stained slides against the original blocks at the time the
slides are labeled. the labeled slides are double checked by a second individual
before they leave the lab.
individuals who have committed repetitive labeling errors, or if a labeling
error led the dept to report a mis diagnosis leads to an employee reprimand
according to our facility's disciplinary policy.
I understand that hard working staff make errors. the key is that the error
be caught before it leaves the lab. it is not acceptable for the pathologist to
have erroneous slides at the microscope.
Vinnie Della Speranza
Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services
Medical
University of South Carolina
165 Ashley Avenue Suite 309
Charleston,
SC 29425
Ph: 843-792-6353
fax: 843-792-8974
>>> "Norman,
Barbara" <barbara.norman@DSILABS.com> 10/15/02 02:21PM
>>>
Would greatly appreciate your comments and any suggestion that
you may have
on the issue concerning labeling errors.
Our department does
realize that the acceptable level of labeling errors is
zero. We are all
aware of the serious problems that can arise if labeling
errors are not
addressed. We are very conscientious about providing the
patient with the
best service while preserving the patients identity.
Our procedure dictates
that slides are labeled at the time of sectioning and
before they are signed
out they are rechecked and checked again when the
permanent paper label is
applied.
There have been times when the pathologist did receive slides that
were
mislabeled. It was brought back into the department and checked
and
re-labeled. This error is unacceptable by a few of our pathologists, and
my
concern is that they are also responsible to read each label,
thus
maintaining another QC review.
Last month the department produced
close to 6000 slides and 4 slides were
mislabeled, ( a positive control was
labeled negative and the negative was
labeled positive (for IHC).
Please
help fellow Histologist, How are you handling these errors at
your
institution?
Many thanks,
B.L. Norman
Naples,
FL
<< Previous Message | Next Message >>