The Feasibility and Impact of Midnight Routine Blood Draws on Laboratory Orders and Processing Time. Issue 6 (1st June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sorita, Atsushi; Patterson, Aaron; Landazuri, Patrick; De-Lin, Stacy; Fischer, Colleen; Husk, Gregg; Sivaprasad, Latha
• Is Part Of: American journal of clinical pathology. Volume 141:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 805
• Page End: 810
• Publication Date: 2014-06-01
• Subjects: Routine blood draws -- Laboratory turnaround times -- Stat laboratory test orders -- Flow management; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1309/AJCPPL8KFH3KFHNV
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9173

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of midnight routine blood draws and assess their impact on test result availability and stat laboratory orders. Methods: We changed the timing of routine blood draws from early morning to midnight on five inpatient wards during the period November 16 to 30, 2011. Results: For the entire institution, of all orders placed each day, laboratory test orders placed from 4:00 to 8:00 am decreased from 55% to 39%, and those placed from 12:00 to 4:00 am increased from 12% to 30%. Stat orders per day decreased during the intervention period (301 ± 53 vs 344 ± 55, P = .04). Morning specimens were more likely to be available by 9:00am (78.1% vs 58.9%, P < .001), and their turnaround time improved by 25.8 minutes (158 vs 184 minutes, P < .001). Patient survey revealed potential preference for midnight blood draws. Conclusions: Midnight is a feasible alternative for the timing of routine blood draws. Redesigning inflow of laboratory orders improved efficiency of laboratory processing and reduced stat orders.