Factors influencing laboratory results

Laboratory testing is an integral part of modern medicine. To assess a patient’s health status, as much information as possible is needed, which can be obtained from various sources: medical history, physical examination, laboratory testing, imaging, and functional diagnostics. Approximately 60–70% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory data.

For these decisions to be accurate, it is essential that the laboratory process is precise, standardized, and minimally prone to error. The entire laboratory process can be divided into three main phases: pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical. Each has its own specific features and potential sources of error, which can significantly affect test results and their interpretation.

Table of contents:

• 2. Laboratory sample processing
• 3. Pre-analytical Phase of Laboratory Testing
• 4. Analytical Phase and Analytical Properties of Laboratory Methods
• 5. What Errors Can Occur?
• 6. How to Describe and Evaluate Errors?
• 7. How Can Errors Be Prevented?
• 8. Post-analytical Phase of the Laboratory Process
• 9. Summary