Medical laboratory and Imaging frequently
come across critical results or finding of a patient’s diagnostic tests which requires
immediate intervention from the doctor to bring the patient out of the
criticality. Hence, a hospital must have a policy and procedure in place for
identification and quick communication of such results. This posts describes
critical test results in medical laboratory (Check critical findings in imaging–policy and procedure).
Critical test results in
laboratory are the findings in the lab tests of a patient which indicates that condition
of the patient may be critical or even life-threatening. Such results, when found shall urgently be informed to the treating physician of the
patient so that required interventions can be carried out on time and patient can be saved from any possible adversities. To be able to do so, a hospital needs to
have a well-developed process of ‘identification and urgent communication of critical
test results in lab’. The process should be able to achieve following
objectives.
1. Critical test results gets identified within the lab as soon as the test results are obtained
2. No critical test results gets missed from identification
3. Non-critical test results do not get identified as critical
4. The treating doctor of the concerned patients gets to know about the critical test result on an urgent basis
Any lapses in identification and/or
communication of critical test results to concerned doctor may lead to severe
consequences for patient, including death. Hence, in addition to the process, hospitals
must have a policy that mandates compliance to this process by laboratory
staff. Following points shall be taken into consideration for policy and system
on identification and communication of critical test results in laboratory.
