Medical errors are possible at any phase of patient testing -- preanalytical, analytical, or post-analytical.
- The preanalytical phase of testing includes all processes prior to the actual testing of a specimen.
- The analytical phase encompasses all the processes involved in testing a specimen.
- The post-analytical phase includes all the processes that occur after test analysis.
Monitoring processes in all three phases of testing is key to ensuring patient safety and reducing the possibility of medical errors related to laboratory testing.
