A lot can go awry along the pathway from a test order to analysis, and it’s long been known that most errors in testing can be traced back to a preanalytical problem. Undetected, these issues cost laboratories time, money, and — most importantly — compromise the quality of patient care.
Like many of the problems clinical laboratories face, a lot of hope is placed on better technology to vanquish one of the most painful weak points in laboratory medicine. Fortunately, both academic and industry research scientists are showing progress that promises to offer relief.