August 2010
Feature Story

Topics and practices under study to date

What are effective interventions/ practices for reducing patient specimen and/or test result identification errors?

• Bar-coding systems
• Point-of-care bar-coding systems

What practices are effective for timely and accurate communication of laboratory critical test results to responsible/licensed caregivers?

• Automated notification
• Call center

What practices are effective for reducing blood culture contamination?

• Dedicated phlebotomy
• Venipuncture
• Commercial prep kits

Related Links

• Labs seeing the light on practice guidelines