Choose the best diagnostic laboratory testing

How many times have you had to repeat tests because the results were incorrect or your doctor rejected them? Most of us have experienced this at some point. Diagnostic lab errors wind up being a costly affair for the patients’ health because of the hazards they face. False reports can lead to misdiagnosis, which can further worsen the problem by delaying treatment or causing the doctor to prescribe incorrect treatment. A minor misdiagnosis, such as an inaccurate blood sugar reading, might have a negative impact on a patient’s health if the doctor begins diabetes therapy, such as insulin injections. Aside from that, analytical errors in diagnostic reports might be costly to patients.

Here are some things to look for when selecting a diagnostic lab.

• How is your sample handled before to analysis?

As everything from using the wrong needle gauge to collecting blood to shaking and jarring sample tubes after collection or in transit can destroy red blood cells, resulting in incorrect laboratory results, sample handling is as important as the analysis procedure. A Laboratory testing result might be influenced by incorrect documentation of patient details or incorrect directions given to the patient for preparation by sample collecting workers.

• Who is taking blood from your veins?

Phlebotomy (blood drawing) is a multistep process that impacts the quality of the specimen, making it critical for avoiding laboratory errors, patient damage, and even death. According to the World Health Organization, merely touching a vein to confirm its location before inserting a needle raises the risk of contamination. This can lead to erroneous blood culture results, prolonged hospitalization, delayed diagnosis, and antibiotic overuse.

• Is the lab equipped with the most up-to-date technology?

Every day, diagnostics technology advances, resulting in better quality assurance and shorter test results turnaround times. Better technologies are better suited to tackle the weight of modern ailments such as tuberculosis, thyroid disease, diabetes, and so on. Check which technology is relevant for the tests ordered by your doctor before picking a diagnostic lab. In fact, you can seek advice from your doctor on this.

Final thoughts

Everyone wishes to be in good health. You feel terrific when you’re healthy! And you want to feel wonderful the most of the time, which is presumably why you’re reading this. Getting frequent lab testing is a crucial part of staying healthy. That’s because it’s difficult to know exactly what’s going on in our bodies without lab tests.

Although organized lab chains have voluntarily accredited their labs, a considerable percentage of them have yet to do so. The majority of labs in the unorganized sector are not accredited. When a laboratory is accredited by a reputable accreditation agency, it signifies that it has demonstrated technical and people competence in doing specified types of testing, measurement, and calibration activities.

When we are not feeling well, the doctor can only make so many assumptions based on our symptoms. More importantly, many serious health disorders might go years without showing any signs before becoming apparent. Blood tests are used by doctors to determine what is going on in our bodies. You should, too.