Data Quality Associated with Handwritten Laboratory Test Requests: Classification and Frequency of Data-Entry Errors for Outpatient Serology Tests

Author:

Vecellio Elia,Maley Michael W.1,Toouli George2,Georgiou Andrew3,Westbrook Johanna4

Affiliation:

1. Michael Malley, MBBS, BMedSc, MMed(ClinEpi), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney South West Pathology Service, NSW Health Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, NSW, 2170, AUSTRALIA

2. George Toouli, BSc, MPH, Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, AUSTRALIA

3. Andrew Georgiou, BA, DipArts, MSc, PhD, Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

4. Johanna I. Westbrook, BAppSc, MHA, GradDipAppEpid, PhD, Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

Abstract

Objective: Manual data-entry of handwritten laboratory test requests into electronic information systems has implications for data accuracy. This study sought to identify the types and number of errors occurring for handwritten serology test requests received from outpatient clinics. Methods: A 15-day audit at a serology laboratory in Sydney, Australia, compared the content of all transcribed serology outpatient test requests in the laboratory information system with the handwritten request form. Results: One or more errors were detected in 67/627 (10.7%) audited requests ( N=68 errors). Fifty-one of the errors (75.0%) were transcription errors: the wrong test was transcribed in 40/68 cases (58.8%) – ten of these occurred when the abbreviations ‘HBsAb’ and ‘HBsAg’ were confounded for one another – and transcribed requests were missing a test in 11/68 cases (16.2%). The remaining 17 non-transcription errors (25.0%) described request forms not signed by the ordering clinician, mislabelled specimens, and wrong tests due to computer algorithm errors. Conclusions: Manual data-entry of handwritten serology requests is an error-prone process. Electronic ordering has the potential to eliminate illegible handwriting and transcription errors, thus improving data accuracy in hospital information systems.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Health Policy,Leadership and Management

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