{"title":"Critical Results in Laboratory Medicine.","authors":"Kobe Truijens, Glynis Frans, Pieter Vermeersch","doi":"10.1093/clinchem/hvae120","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Timely and accurate notification of critical results is crucial in laboratory medicine and mandated by accreditation standards like ISO15189. Alert lists do, however, vary widely and clinical laboratories typically rely on a combination of in-house agreed and/or literature-based critical values. Communication by phone is still the preferred method of notification, but digital communication could help improve communication of critical results.</p><p><strong>Content: </strong>We review the available evidence concerning critical result thresholds and critical result notification practices. The evidence is ranked using an adaptation of the Stockholm Hierarchy. In addition, we propose an evidence-based list of critical result thresholds for hospitalized patients that laboratories can use as a starter list and further customize based on the clinical needs of their patient population.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A clear distinction between critical results and significantly abnormal results is essential for effective and timely healthcare interventions. Implementation of a policy using differentiated thresholds taking into account individual patient characteristics and how fast medical attention is needed, and the use alternative communication methods could enhance communication efficiency and reduce notification fatigue.</p>","PeriodicalId":10690,"journal":{"name":"Clinical chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvae120","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Timely and accurate notification of critical results is crucial in laboratory medicine and mandated by accreditation standards like ISO15189. Alert lists do, however, vary widely and clinical laboratories typically rely on a combination of in-house agreed and/or literature-based critical values. Communication by phone is still the preferred method of notification, but digital communication could help improve communication of critical results.
Content: We review the available evidence concerning critical result thresholds and critical result notification practices. The evidence is ranked using an adaptation of the Stockholm Hierarchy. In addition, we propose an evidence-based list of critical result thresholds for hospitalized patients that laboratories can use as a starter list and further customize based on the clinical needs of their patient population.
Summary: A clear distinction between critical results and significantly abnormal results is essential for effective and timely healthcare interventions. Implementation of a policy using differentiated thresholds taking into account individual patient characteristics and how fast medical attention is needed, and the use alternative communication methods could enhance communication efficiency and reduce notification fatigue.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Chemistry is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that is the premier publication for the science and practice of clinical laboratory medicine. It was established in 1955 and is associated with the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM).
The journal focuses on laboratory diagnosis and management of patients, and has expanded to include other clinical laboratory disciplines such as genomics, hematology, microbiology, and toxicology. It also publishes articles relevant to clinical specialties including cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, immunology, infectious diseases, maternal-fetal medicine, neurology, nutrition, oncology, and pediatrics.
In addition to original research, editorials, and reviews, Clinical Chemistry features recurring sections such as clinical case studies, perspectives, podcasts, and Q&A articles. It has the highest impact factor among journals of clinical chemistry, laboratory medicine, pathology, analytical chemistry, transfusion medicine, and clinical microbiology.
The journal is indexed in databases such as MEDLINE and Web of Science.