Abstract :
Objectives: Measurement of turnaround time for common clinical chemistry examinations and performing
root cause analysis for causes for inadequate turnaround time for examinations.
Materials and Methods: The Turnaround Times (TAT) of common biochemistry tests ordered by
physicians for OPD, IPD and ICU patients were evaluated. Various time periods were recorded, calculated
and evaluated. Root cause analysis for delay in TAT was performed by Ishikawa fishbone method.
Results and Conclusions: The study shows that average TAT for OPD patients was 22-23 hours, for
indoor patient was 6-7 hours and for ICU patient was 7-8 hours. There was major contribution of report
transport system in the total TAT, while actual analytical TAT contributed very small to over all TAT. The
study shows that, lack of efficient sample and report transport, lack of man power and lack of electronic
transport of report is root cause of delay in TAT.
Keyword :
Turnaround time, Root cause analysis, Ishikawa fishbone method.