Asian Pac. J. Health Sci., 2017; 4(2):175-182 e-ISSN: 2349-0659, p-ISSN: 2350-0964 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Toshniwal et al ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES, 2017; 4(2):175-182 www.apjhs.com 175 Document heading doi: 10.21276/apjhs.2017.4.2.29 Research Article Test requisition form- A check point in pre-analytical phase for laboratory errors P Toshniwal 1* , S Toshniwal 2 , J Jasani 3 , R M Shah 4 1 Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, Incharge Central Research Laboratory, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India 2 Tutor, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India 3 Professor of Pathology and Incharge of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Dhiraj Hospital, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India 4 Professor and Ex-HOD of Biochemistry Department, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India ABSTRACT Introduction: Quality in clinical laboratories cannot be understood by merely focusing on analytical aspects only; there is a need to put attention on pre-analytical and post-analytical aspects of laboratory testing to improve overall quality of laboratory diagnosis. In this study we try to evaluate the contribution of incompletely filled test requisition form in pre-analytical phase and how this error could be minimized which ultimately results into minimizing error in pre-analytical phase so to improve the quality of TTP. Objective: This study was designed to study the incomplete test requisition forms (TRF) received from different in-patient department (IPD) wards of hospital in biochemistry section of clinical chemistry laboratory (CCL) of hospital. Materials and Methods: Total 7671 TRF were in biochemistry section CCL from different IPD wards of hospital for the period of 3 months March to May-2015. Thereafter intervention, training was given and again the same error were observed, recorded, analyzed and compared for in 7843 TRF in 3 months from June to August-2015.Results: Total incomplete entry error in TRF during the pre-analytical phase of TTP was found to be 18.21 % in phase-1 before intervention which got reduced to 7.47 % in phase-2 after intervention. Conclusions: Therefore, clinicians and resident doctors should be made aware of consequences and results of not filling proper TRF and by introducing electronic test requisition entry they must be trained to adequately fill all the required information Key Words: Incomplete, incorrect, laboratory test, pre-analytical phase, test request form, turnaround time Introduction Laboratory test performed in clinical laboratory is an important source of medical error that affects patient safety. [1-3] Therefore laboratory testing process must be constantly monitored and evaluated to ensure reliable test results for well-organized patient’s supervision. ____________________________ *Correspondence Pawan Toshniwal Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, Incharge Central Research Laboratory, SBKS MI & RC, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India E Mail: pawantoshniwal2003@gmail.com There are three phases of total testing process namely: pre-analytical phase, analytical phase and post- analytical phase. As per International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15189:2007), pre-analytical phase definition begins from the starting step were the clinicians test order request including the examination, requisition, preparation of the patient, collection of the primary sample and transportation to and within the laboratory and ending when the analytical examination begins[4].From past few years there has been an increase concern seen towards quality improvement in laboratory testing and patient safety in health care. Accreditation agencies are expecting the clinical laboratories to take responsibilities towards the pre- analytical and post-analytical phases of total testing process where the most errors used to arise in comparison to the analytical phase.[5] Pre-analytical