March 2010

GP33-AAccuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline

This guideline describes the essential elements of systems and processes required to ensure accurate patient identification. The principles in this document may be applied to manual or electronic systems. Design considerations covered include criteria for accuracy, differences in inpatient vs outpatient settings that impact patient identification, language and cultural considerations, and standardization of processes across the health care enterprise.

A guideline for global application developed through the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute consensus process.

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Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Setting the standard for quality in clinical laboratory testing around the world.

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) is a not-for-profit membership organization that brings together the varied perspectives and expertise of the worldwide laboratory community for the advancement of a common cause: to foster excellence in laboratory medicine by developing and implementing clinical laboratory standards and guidelines that help laboratories fulfill their responsibilities with efficiency, effectiveness, and global applicability. Consensus Process

Consensus—the substantial agreement by materially affected, competent, and interested parties—is core to the development of all CLSI documents. It does not always connote unanimous agreement, but does mean that the participants in the development of a consensus document have considered and resolved all relevant objections and accept the resulting agreement. Commenting on Documents

CLSI documents undergo periodic evaluation and modification to keep pace with advancements in technologies, procedures, methods, and protocols affecting the laboratory or health care.

CLSI’s consensus process depends on experts who volunteer to serve as contributing authors and/or as participants in the reviewing and commenting process. At the end of each comment period, the committee that developed the document is obligated to review all comments, respond in writing to all substantive comments, and revise the draft document as appropriate.

Comments on published CLSI documents are equally essential, and may be submitted by anyone, at any time, on any document. All comments are addressed according to the consensus process by a committee of experts. Appeals Process

If it is believed that an objection has not been adequately addressed, the process for appeals is documented in the CLSI Standards Development Policies and Process document.

All comments and responses submitted on draft and published documents are retained on file at CLSI and are available upon request.

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Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute950 West Valley Road, Suite 2500 Wayne, PA 19087 USA P: 610.688.0100F: 610.688.0700www.clsi.orgstandard@clsi.org

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GP33-A Vol. 30 No. 7 ISBN 1-56238-721-9 Replaces GP33-P ISSN 0273-3099 Vol. 29 No. 13

Accuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline

Volume 30 Number 7 Sheila M. Woodcock, MBA, FCSMLS(D) Robert Bettinelli, BAppSc(Med Lab) Leslie A. Fedraw, MA, MT(ASCP) Christian Fischer, MD Walter H. Henricks, MD Peggy Mann, MS, MT(ASCP) Barbara Parsons, MA, MT(ASCP) Merle B. Smith, MBA, MS, MT(ASCP) Cecelia Wright, MBA, MT(ASCP) Abstract Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute document GP33-A—Accuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline describes the essential elements of systems and processes required to ensure accurate patient identification. The principles in this document may be applied to manual or electronic systems. Design considerations covered include criteria for accuracy, differences in inpatient vs outpatient settings that impact patient identification, language and cultural considerations, and standardization of processes across the health care enterprise. Guidance on system implementation and user training is included. Validation of patient identification systems/programs and ongoing monitoring as a quality measure are also covered. This document is intended for health care providers who will design, select, implement, monitor, and evaluate patient identification systems. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Accuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline. CLSI document GP33-A (ISBN 1-56238-721-9). Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 950 West Valley Road, Suite 2500, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 USA, 2010.

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute consensus process, which is the mechanism for moving a document through two or more levels of review by the health care community, is an ongoing process. Users should expect revised editions of any given document. Because rapid changes in technology may affect the procedures, methods, and protocols in a standard or guideline, users should replace outdated editions with the current editions of CLSI documents. Current editions are listed in the CLSI catalog and posted on our website at www.clsi.org. If your organization is not a member and would like to become one, and to request a copy of the catalog, contact us at: Telephone: 610.688.0100; Fax: 610.688.0700; E-Mail: customerservice@clsi.org; Website: www.clsi.org.

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Number 7 GP33-A

ii

Copyright ©2010 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Except as stated below, any reproduction of content from a CLSI copyrighted standard, guideline, companion product, or other material requires express written consent from CLSI. All rights reserved. Interested parties may send permission requests to permissions@clsi.org. CLSI hereby grants permission to each individual member or purchaser to make a single reproduction of this publication for use in its laboratory procedure manual at a single site. To request permission to use this publication in any other manner, e-mail permissions@clsi.org. Suggested Citation CLSI. Accuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline. CLSI document GP33-A. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2010. Proposed Guideline May 2009 Approved Guideline March 2010 ISBN 1-56238-721-9 ISSN 0273-3099

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Volume 30 GP33-A

v

Contents

Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... i 

Committee Membership ........................................................................................................................ iii 

Foreword .............................................................................................................................................. vii 

1  Scope .......................................................................................................................................... 1 

2  Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 

3  Terminology ............................................................................................................................... 2 

3.1  A Note on Terminology ................................................................................................ 2 3.2  Definitions .................................................................................................................... 2 3.3  Abbreviations and Acronyms ....................................................................................... 3 

4  Designing a Patient and Sample Identification System ............................................................. 3 

5  Preexamination Phase ................................................................................................................ 3 

5.1  Patient Identification ..................................................................................................... 4 5.2  Sample Identification .................................................................................................... 7 

6  Examination Phase ................................................................................................................... 10 

6.1  Bar-coded Sample With Automated Sample Delivery System................................... 10 6.2  Samples Without Bar Codes ....................................................................................... 11 

7  Postexamination Phase............................................................................................................. 11 

7.1  Electronic Result Reporting ........................................................................................ 11 7.2  Manual Result Reporting ............................................................................................ 12 

8  Training .................................................................................................................................... 12 

9  Validating a New System for Patient Identification ................................................................ 12 

10  Reports of Incorrect Identification Incidents ........................................................................... 14 

10.1  Detection of Misidentification Errors ......................................................................... 15 10.2  Correction of Misidentification Errors ........................................................................ 16 

11  Audit Systems .......................................................................................................................... 16 

11.1  Patient Identification Audits ....................................................................................... 16 11.2  Sample Identification Audits ...................................................................................... 17 

12  Technology Tools .................................................................................................................... 18 

12.1  Bar-code Technology .................................................................................................. 18 12.2  Radiofrequency Identification Technology ................................................................ 19 12.3  Biometrics ................................................................................................................... 20 

13  Point-of-Care Testing............................................................................................................... 21 

13.1  Ensure Accuracy in Patient Identification .................................................................. 21 13.2  Prepare to Perform the Test ........................................................................................ 22 13.3  Collect the Sample ...................................................................................................... 22 13.4  Test the Sample ........................................................................................................... 22 

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Contents (Continued) 13.5  Result Reporting ......................................................................................................... 22 

14  Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 22 

References ............................................................................................................................................. 23 

Appendix A. Preexamination Phase Process for Hospital Patients ....................................................... 25 

Appendix B. Sample Hospital Identification Band Policy .................................................................... 27 

Appendix C. Sample Inpatient Identification Procedure ...................................................................... 29 

Appendix D. Sample Procedure for Identifying Outpatients ................................................................ 31 

Appendix E. Sample Procedure for Patient Identification in a Physician Office Laboratory ............... 32 

Appendix F. Sample Procedure for Identifying Neonates .................................................................... 33 

Appendix G. Sample Labeling Policy and Procedures ......................................................................... 34 

Appendix H. Examples of Examination Phase Process ........................................................................ 37 

Appendix I. Postexamination Phase Process ........................................................................................ 39 

Appendix J. Sample Training Checklist Form ...................................................................................... 40 

Appendix K. Sample Policy for the Misidentified or Unidentified Patient .......................................... 41 

Summary of Delegate Comments and Subcommittee Responses ......................................................... 44 

The Quality Management System Approach ........................................................................................ 54 

Related CLSI Reference Materials ....................................................................................................... 55 

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Volume 30 GP33-A

©Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. All rights reserved. 1

Accuracy in Patient and Sample Identification; Approved Guideline 1 Scope The identification (ID) process begins with the patient, either at the time of registration for admission to a health care facility, or on presentation for sample collection, and ends with reporting the results of the examination. This document outlines all points in the path of workflow related to patient and sample ID. The essential elements of systems and processes required to ensure accurate patient ID are described. The principles in this document are applicable to manual or electronic systems. Considerations covered include criteria for accuracy, differences in inpatient vs outpatient settings that impact patient ID, language and cultural considerations, and standardization of processes across the health care enterprise. Guidance on system implementation and user training is included. Validation of patient ID systems/programs and ongoing monitoring as a quality measure are also covered. This document is intended for health care providers (HCPs) who design, select, implement, monitor, and evaluate patient ID systems or any individual responsible for specimen collection. 2 Introduction An accurate test result on the wrong patient is at best of no value and, at worst, could lead to incorrect or harmful treatment or intervention. Accurate patient ID is the crucial first step to ensuring patient safety in the delivery of health care processes. Failures in accurate patient ID can have serious and adverse consequences for patients, including incorrect treatment, lack of treatment, injury, disability, and death.2 In recent years, data regarding rates of ID errors have become available. For example, data from a College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study of ID errors in primary and secondary sample labeling involving clinical laboratories3 showed an overall ID error rate of 1 error per 2638 billable tests (379 per million) and reported 345 adverse patient events during a five-week tracking period at 120 participating institutions. A more recent Q-probes study of 147 laboratories showed a labeling error rate of 0.92 per 1000 labels.4 In transfusion medicine,5,6 wrong blood in the tube (WBIT), in which a tube contains blood from a person different from the person named on the tube submitted for pretransfusion compatibility testing, has received increased attention because of the implications of transfusing incompatible blood components. A survey of 27 United Kingdom hospitals for samples for pretransfusion testing showed a 3.2% rejection rate, primarily for missing or incomplete information, and a WBIT rate of 1 in 1303 to 1501 samples.7 A multicenter international study found a median international WBIT rate of 1 in 1986 collected samples.8

A College of American Pathologists Q-Tracks study involving quarterly ID band monitoring at 217 institutions found an initial median ID band error rate of 7.4% with the most common ID band error as missing ID bands. Continuous monitoring of ID bands by program participants was associated with a reduction in ID band error rate to 3.05%.9

It is important to recognize that any process involving human intervention, including bar coding and radiofrequency identification (RFID), is still subject to error, so constant vigilance is required. One hospital adopted a “zero tolerance laboratory sample labeling” process, which led to a 75% reduction in labeling errors.10

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Number 7 GP33-A

2 ©Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. All rights reserved.

3 Terminology 3.1 A Note on Terminology CLSI, as a global leader in standardization, is firmly committed to achieving global harmonization wherever possible. Harmonization is a process of recognizing, understanding, and explaining differences while taking steps to achieve worldwide uniformity. CLSI recognizes that medical conventions in the global metrological community have evolved differently in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere; that these differences are reflected in CLSI, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) documents; and that legally required use of terms, regional usage, and different consensus timelines are all important considerations in the harmonization process. In light of this, CLSI’s consensus process for development and revision of standards and guidelines focuses on harmonization of terms to facilitate the global application of standards and guidelines. To align the use of terminology in this document with that of ISO, the terms preexamination, examination, and postexamination were adopted in place of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical, and the term sample replaces the term specimen where appropriate. The users of GP33-A should understand that the fundamental meanings of the terms are identical in many cases, and are defined in the guideline’s Definitions section (see Section 3.2). The terms in this document are consistent with those defined in the ISO 15189, ISO 17025, and ISO 9000 series of standards. The term “ID band” used in this document is also known as “wristband.” 3.2 Definitions

analyte – component represented in the name of a measurable quantity (ISO 17511).11 examination – set of operations having the object of determining the value or characteristics of a property; NOTE: In some disciplines (eg, microbiology), an examination is the total activity of a number of tests, observations, or measurements (ISO 15189).12 health care provider – individual authorized to deliver health care to a patient (ISO 17593)13; NOTE: This is a global term used to describe a person obtaining the sample and can include physician, nurse, medical technologist, laboratory assistant, respiratory therapist, care assistants, and phlebotomists. measurand – quantity intended to be measured (ISO/IEC Guide 99).14 postexamination procedures – processes following the examination, including systematic review; formatting and interpretation; authorization for release; reporting and transmission of the results; and storage of samples after the examinations (ISO 15189).12 preexamination procedures – steps starting, in chronological order, from the clinician’s request and 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 procedure begins (ISO 15189).12 reproducibility (measurement) – measurement precision (closeness of agreement between indications or measured quantity values obtained by replicate measurements on the same or similar objects under specified conditions) under reproducibility conditions of measurement (condition of measurement, out of a set of conditions that includes different locations, operators, measuring systems, and replicate measurements on the same or similar objects) (ISO/IEC Guide 99).14

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Number 7 GP33-A

54 ©Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. All rights reserved.

The Quality Management System Approach Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) subscribes to a quality management system approach in the development of standards and guidelines, which facilitates project management; defines a document structure via a template; and provides a process to identify needed documents. The approach is based on the model presented in CLSI document HS01—A Quality Management System Model for Health Care. The quality management system approach applies a core set of “quality system essentials” (QSEs), basic to any organization, to all operations in any health care service’s path of workflow (ie, operational aspects that define how a particular product or service is provided). The QSEs provide the framework for delivery of any type of product or service, serving as a manager’s guide. The QSEs are as follows: Documents and Records Equipment Information Management Process Improvement Organization Purchasing and Inventory Occurrence Management Customer Service Personnel Process Control Assessment—External

and Internal Facilities and Safety

GP33-A addresses the QSEs indicated by an “X.” For a description of the other documents listed in the grid, please refer to the Related CLSI Reference Materials section on the following page.

Doc

umen

ts

and

Rec

ords

Org

aniz

atio

n

Pers

onne

l

Equi

pmen

t

Purc

hasi

ng a

nd

Inve

ntor

y

Proc

ess

Con

trol

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

Occ

urre

nce

Man

agem

ent

Ass

essm

ents

—

Exte

rnal

and

In

tern

al

Proc

ess

Impr

ovem

ent

Cus

tom

er

Serv

ice

Faci

litie

s and

Sa

fety

H11 HS01

HS01

GP21 H11 HS01

H11 HS01

H03 HS01

X EP18

GP32 H03 H04 H11

HS01 MM13

HS01

EP18 GP32 HS01

EP18 HS01

EP18 H11 HS01

HS01

H03 H11 HS01

Adapted from CLSI document HS01—A Quality Management System Model for Health Care. Path of Workflow A path of workflow is the description of the necessary steps to deliver the particular product or service that the organization or entity provides. For example, CLSI document GP26⎯Application of a Quality Management System Model for Laboratory Services defines a clinical laboratory path of workflow, which consists of three sequential processes: preexamination, examination, and postexamination. All clinical laboratories follow these processes to deliver the laboratory’s services, namely quality laboratory information. GP33-A addresses the clinical laboratory path of workflow steps indicated by an “X.” For a description of the other documents listed in the grid, please refer to the Related CLSI Reference Materials section on the following page.

Preexamination Examination Postexamination

Exam

inat

ion

orde

ring

Sam

ple

colle

ctio

n

Sam

ple

trans

port

Sam

ple

rece

ipt/p

roce

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g

Exam

inat

ion

Res

ults

revi

ew

and

follo

w-u

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Inte

rpre

tatio

n

Res

ults

repo

rting

an

d ar

chiv

ing

Sam

ple

man

agem

ent

H03

H11

X H03 H04 H11

MM13

H03

H11

MM13

X H03

H11

MM13

X H03

H03

X MM13

Adapted from CLSI document HS01—A Quality Management System Model for Health Care.

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©Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. All rights reserved. 55

Related CLSI Reference Materials∗

∗ CLSI documents are continually reviewed and revised through the CLSI consensus process; therefore, readers should refer to the most current editions.

EP18-A2 Risk Management Techniques to Identify and Control Laboratory Error Sources; Approved Guideline—Second Edition (2009). This guideline describes risk management techniques that will aid in identifying, understanding, and managing sources of failure (potential failure modes) and help to ensure correct results. Although intended primarily for in vitro diagnostics, this document will also serve as a reference for clinical laboratory managers and supervisors who wish to learn about risk management techniques and processes.

GP21-A3 Training and Competence Assessment; Approved Guideline—Third Edition (2009). This guideline

provides background information and recommended processes for the development of training and competence assessment programs that meet quality and regulatory objectives.

GP32-A Management of Nonconforming Laboratory Events; Approved Guideline (2007). This guideline provides

an outline and the content for developing a program to manage a health care service’s nonconforming events that is based on the principles of quality management and patient safety.

H03-A6 Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by Venipuncture; Approved Standard—

Sixth Edition (2007). This document provides procedures for the collection of diagnostic specimens by venipuncture, including line draws, blood culture collection, and venipuncture in children.

H04-A6 Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Diagnostic Capillary Blood Specimens; Approved

Standard—Sixth Edition (2008). This document provides a technique for the collection of diagnostic capillary blood specimens, including recommendations for collection sites and specimen handling and identification. Specifications for disposable devices used to collect, process, and transfer diagnostic capillary blood specimens are also included.

H11-A4 Procedures for the Collection of Arterial Blood Specimens; Approved Standard—Fourth Edition

(2004). This document provides principles for collecting, handling, and transporting arterial blood specimens to assist with reducing collection hazards and ensuring the integrity of the arterial specimen.

HS01-A2

A Quality Management System Model for Health Care; Approved Guideline—Second Edition (2004). This document provides a model for providers of health care services that will assist with implementation and maintenance of effective quality management systems.

MM13-A Collection, Transport, Preparation, and Storage of Specimens for Molecular Methods; Approved

Guideline (2005). This document provides guidance related to proper and safe biological specimen collection and nucleic acid isolation and purification. These topics include methods of collection, recommended storage and transport conditions, and available nucleic acid purification technologies for each specimen/nucleic acid type.

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ISBN 1-56238-721-9

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