AI Article Synopsis
- - The text presents a systematic review assessing the effectiveness of barcoding in minimizing identification errors related to patient specimens and laboratory tests.
- - The review analyzed 17 observational studies, finding that all studies showed positive results for barcoding systems, with significant odds ratios indicating a strong efficacy in both specimen and point-of-care testing.
- - The conclusions highlight that barcoding is an evidence-based best practice for improving accuracy in hospital settings, with a high strength of evidence rating indicating substantial benefits.
Article Abstract
Objectives: This is the first systematic review of the effectiveness of barcoding practices for reducing patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors.
Design And Methods: The CDC-funded Laboratory Medicine Best Practices Initiative systematic review methods for quality improvement practices were used.
Results: A total of 17 observational studies reporting on barcoding systems are included in the body of evidence; 10 for patient specimens and 7 for point-of-care testing. All 17 studies favored barcoding, with meta-analysis mean odds ratios for barcoding systems of 4.39 (95% CI: 3.05-6.32) and for point-of-care testing of 5.93 (95% CI: 5.28-6.67).
Conclusions: Barcoding is effective for reducing patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors in diverse hospital settings and is recommended as an evidence-based "best practice." The overall strength of evidence rating is high and the effect size rating is substantial. Unpublished studies made an important contribution comprising almost half of the body of evidence.
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Source |
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4518452 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2012.06.019 | DOI Listing |
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