Impact of a satellite laboratory on turnaround times for the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged laboratory turnaround time (TAT) contributes to prolonged length of stay in emergency departments (EDs). The TAT of laboratory test results is a common key performance indicator by which clinicians and regulatory bodies evaluate laboratory performance. Establishing satellite laboratories in EDs staffed by laboratory technologists is one approach towards reducing TAT. METHODS: TAT data were collected for three time intervals: (a) sampling time to time samples received in the laboratory (transportation time), (b) sample received in the laboratory until results were available for viewing on the laboratory information system monitor or collection by ED staff (within laboratory TAT), and (c) sampling to availability of results (total TAT, e.g., a+b). The target was to achieve a median within laboratory TAT of 45 min for samples received from the ED. RESULTS: The median transportation times for samples to be delivered to the central and satellite laboratory were 22 min and 1 min, respectively (p<0.0001). The median within laboratory TATs were 45 [95% confidence interval (CI) 43-49] and 34 (95% CI 33-35) min for the central and satellite laboratories, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A satellite laboratory in the ED can significantly reduce laboratory TAT.