Overutilization and Underutilization of Thyroid Function Tests are Major Causes of Diagnostic Errors in Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: The failure to order the correct diagnostic test at the right time is one of the major contributing factors of diagnostic error. Excessive testing can lead to added economic burden and addressing underutilization is precarious as clinicians often fail to order the tests that would improve diagnosis, prognosis, and management. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of errors in test orders of thyroid function testing (TFT) in 321 pregnant women suspected of clinical and subclinical thyroid disorders was performed. Test selection was evaluated, and determinations were made about the extent of overutilization and underutilization of TFTs in reviewing each individual patient case by a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) scholar. RESULTS: About 77% (247 cases) of the cases were found to have errors associated with test ordering for TFT. Of the cases reviewed, 18% cases were associated with overutilization, 53% of the cases were associated with underutilization, and 7% were associated with both (overutilization and underutilization). The annual cost burden because of ordering unnecessary tests was estimated to be approximately $13,000. The cost burden from errors resulting from not ordering a test would be of much greater magnitude but was difficult to estimate because underutilization has a ripple effect and may cause prolonged hospital stays, unnecessary medical bills, and delayed/ missed diagnosis leading to poor outcomes for patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated whether proper utilization of TFT were made at maternal health clinic locations of a large academic medical center in pregnant women to diagnose thyroid disorder and reported the issue of wastage of resources in the clinical laboratory. The study findings show significant errors in ordering of TFT for pregnant women in more than 75% of the cases that was based on evidence-based review of patient cases.

Blood usage and wastage at an academic teaching hospital before the initial wave of COVID-19 and during and after its quarantine periods.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion services aim to maintain sufficient blood inventory to support patients, even with challenges introduced by COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To review blood usage and wastage before, during, and after COVID-19 surges, and to evaluate effects on inventory. METHODS: In a retrospective review, we evaluated the association between time periods corresponding to the initial wave of COVID-19 (pre-COVID-19, quarantine, and postquarantine) and blood usage/wastage. Data were stratified by period, and χ2 testing was used to examine the association between these time periods and blood usage/wastage. RESULTS: In the period before COVID-19, the transfusion service used more units, and in the period after quarantine, more units went to waste. Across all time periods, the most-used product was RBCs, and the most wasted product was plasma. A statistically significant association existed between usage (χ2 [6/3209 (0.2%)]) = 24.534; P ≤.001; Cramer V = 0.62), wastage (χ2 [6/775 (0.8%)]) = 21.673; P = .001; Cramer V = 0.118), and time period. The postquarantine period displayed the highest wastage costs ($51,032.35), compared with the pre-COVID-19 period ($29,734.45). CONCLUSION: Changes in blood inventory use and waste are significantly associated with the onset and continuation of COVID-19.