Let the Data Speak: Decreasing Hemolysis Rates Through Education, Practice, and Disclosure

摘要

High hemolysis rates continue to adversely affect many emergency departments. Hemolysis of blood samples occurs when the red blood cells break down and can preclude accurate laboratory results. When a blood specimen is hemolyzed, further time and resources are required to obtain a new laboratory specimen from the patient, further delaying patient throughput in many already crowded emergency departments. Causes and determination of hemolysis seem variable, making improvement of hemolysis rates more challenging to address, and our emergency department was no exception to this challenge.