Frequency of Technical Errors in the Biopsy Samples Submitted to an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Laboratory

Following a correct biopsy protocol is crucial for accurate diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial lesions. Pre-analysis technical errors during preparation and submission of biopsies can jeopardize the diagnostic process and the related treatment plan. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pre-analysis technical errors in the biopsy samples submitted to an oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratory. In this descriptive study, 166 biopsy samples submitted to the oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratory of the dental branch of Islamic Azad University of Tehran in 2013 were assessed. 13 samples were excluded due to incomplete information. 153 samples were evaluated and compared to the standard criteria with regard to four fields including: biopsy request form, storage solution, container, and quality. The frequency of errors was reported with 95% confidence interval. No errors were detected in 19 samples (12.4%); whereas, 123 samples (80.4%) had incomplete biopsy request forms, 7 samples (4.6%) had been kept in improper storage media, 2 samples (1.3%) had unsuitable containers, and 2 biopsies (1.3%) had poor quality. It seems that failure to submit a complete biopsy request form is the most common technical error, which indicates the need for periodic retraining and updates regarding the biopsy protocols.