Evaluation of Random Errors and Their Causes in a Hamadan Teaching Hospital Laboratory during the Years of 2020-2021

Sometimes, laboratory diagnosis accompany by errors. Detection of these errors could be effective in preventing their occurrence. This study aimed to evaluate random errors and their causes in a Hamadan teaching hospital laboratory during the years of 2020 to 2021.

Methods and Materials:

 In this cross-sectional and retrospective study, recorded random errors in a Hamadan teaching hospital laboratory was gathered during 2020 to 2021. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24. Frequency and percentage of desired variables were presented.

According to the results, 312 random errors had been recorded. 98 (31.42%) of them had been only detected by Westgard method and 214 (68.58%) had been detected by both of Westgard and WHO methods. 98 (31.42%) of the random errors had been detected by R4S Westgard rule and 214 (68.58%) of them had been detected by 13S Westgard and WHO rule. The most common causes of random errors were equipment failure (109, 34.93%), reagent failure (82, 26.30%), environmental factors (68, 21.79%) and human error or procedure change (54, 17.07%) respectively. The most errors were related to biochemistry 200 (64.10%), hematology 70 (22.43%) and coagulation department 42 (13.47%) respectively.

The main causes of random errors were equipment and reagent failure. Equipment update, reagent quality control and staff training could be effective in the reduction of these errors.