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Turnaround Time (TAT) is used to determine a laboratory’s efficiency in producing its specimen results. Strictly adhered to in all laboratories, it is one of the key performance indicators measured.
TAT is the time taken for a blood sample to be analyzed - from the time a blood sample is received in the laboratory until the time of reporting.
A 90% completion time of <60 minutes for common laboratory test, has been set as an acceptable goal for TAT3 5.
Faster TAT is universally seen as desirable, as the more timely and rapidly a testing is performed, the more efficient and effective will be the treatment2. This in turn saves time and money for the patient, as well as the hospital.
In CGH, three critical departments are cited for their outstanding performance in their TAT for commonly analyzed blood samples, Renal Panel, TNT level (Troponin T level), ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) & FBC (Full Blood Count). They are the Medical Intensive Care Unit, the Surgical Intensive Unit and the Accident & Emergency Department.
Attached tables illustrate the good track record of these departments for the period Jan - Dec 2010.
| 2010 |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 98.7% |
98.8% |
98.3% |
98.7% |
98.3% |
98.9% |
98.1% |
98.9% |
98.5% |
98.9% |
99.0% |
99.2% | Table 1: Laboratory TAT (Renal, TNT, ABG, FBC) for Medical Intensive Care Unit
| 2010 |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 98.9% |
99.8% |
99.3% |
99.3% |
99.1% |
99.6% |
99.1% |
99.4% |
99.5% |
99.5% |
99.8% |
99.5% |
Table 2: Laboratory TAT (Renal, TNT, ABG, FBC) for Surgical Intensive Care Unit
| 2010 |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 99.4% |
99.4% |
99.3% |
99.4% |
99.2% |
99.4% |
99.3% |
99.6% |
99.5% |
99.5% |
99.7% |
99.6% |
Table 3: Laboratory TAT (Renal, TNT, ABG, FBC) for Accident & Emergency Department
(Source: Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Information Management) |
- Fleisher M, Schwartz MK. Automated approaches to rapid-response testing. A comparative evaluation of point-of-care and centralized laboratory testing. Am J Clin Pathol. 1995;104:S18-25.
- Meites S, Glassco KM. Studies on the quality of specimens obtained by skin-puncture of children. 2. An analysis of blood-collecting practices in a pediatric hospital. Clin Chem. 1985;31:1669-72.
- Nichols JH, Christenson RH, Clarke W, Gronowski A, Hammett-Stabler CA, Jacobs E, et al. Executive summary. The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice Guideline: Evidence-based practice for point-of-care testing. Clin Chim Acta. 2007;379:14-28.
- Price CP. Point of care testing. BMJ. 2001;322:1285-8.
- Wu AH, Apple FS, Gibler WB, Jesse RL, Warshaw MM, Valdes R., Jr National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Standards of Laboratory Practice: recommendations for the use of cardiac markers in coronary artery diseases. Clin Chem. 1999;45:1104-21.
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