ESTIMATING THE RATE OF REJECTED SPECIMENS RECEIVED IN HEMATOLOGY LABORATORY STRATIFIED BY AREA OF COLLECTION AND REASON OF REJECTION

The aim of this study was to examine the rate of rejection of samples collected from different locations in hospital and the reason for the rejection. A retrospective study was conducted at the Amiri Hospital, Kuwait during a 12 month period from January 1 2015 to December 31 2015. Data were retrieved from the laboratory records. A total of 263,276 samples which had been collected across 21 locations were included in the study. Of these 2,467 were rejected, giving an overall rejection rate across the hospital of 0.94%. Rejection was higher in the casualty department compared to in/outpatient locations. The highest rejection rates were for samples collected in the outpatients department (2.42%), ward 6 (1.84%) and yellow CCU (1.71%). The most common reasons for rejection of laboratory samples across the majority of locations were hemolysed samples (51.2%), clotted coagulation profile samples (14.3%) and clotted complete blood count samples (12.2%). Hemolysis and clotting of samples are the most common reasons for sample rejection in our laboratory. Regular training and updates for clinical staff should improve sample collection techniques and result in lower rates of sample rejection by the hematology laboratory.