Abstract:

Blood hemolysis is one of the major problems encountered in hospitals. The purpose of the study is to determine the causes for sample hemolysis and measure the effect of an intervention to reduce sample hemolysis in the emergency department of a large hospital. Here they have used a phased, prospective, interventional study. In phase 1, factors associated with urea and electrolyte sample lysis were studied. Based on the results an educational program consisting of a 15-minute presentation and discussion was implemented. In phase-2, questionnaires were distributed to the doctors and medical students regarding blood sampling and data analysis done after the samples were processes. In phase 1(n=227), it was found that the percentage of lysis is more with the use of vacutainer (35.8%) than without the use of it (11%). While in phase-2 (n=204) after the implementation of educational programme it was found that there is an increase rate of lysis with the use of syringe rather than vacutainer. They were able to attain a reduction in sample hemolysis from 19.8%to 4.9% through the change in operator behaviour which was brought by the educational interventions. Finally, with the introduction of an educational program they were succeeded in bringing reduction in sample hemolysis.

Keywords: sample hemolysis, venipuncture, Emergency department, Vacutainers, Educational programme, chemistry testing.

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